UN ocean conference to accelerate action on marine conservation

The third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC), scheduled for 9 to 13 June 2025 in Nice, France, will accelerate urgent action for sustainable ocean use and conservation.

Heads of Government, together with leaders from intergovernmental organisations, the United Nations (UN) system, civil society, the private sector, youth, and other partners, will gather for the conference, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, to catalyse change for the protection of seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

This is in support of the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water).

The UN has stressed that the ocean is facing a crisis due to climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, which threaten marine ecosystems, economies, human health, and communities worldwide.

“The ocean helps regulate the climate, generates half of the oxygen we need, and acts as a carbon sink. Urgent and transformative action is needed to protect and restore ocean health, an essential component of sustainable development and cultural and social well-being. Strong commitments from all stakeholders will be crucial for effective actions that conserve the ocean,” a statement from the UN indicated.

The conference will include an opening and closing segment, ten plenary sessions, and ten Ocean Action Panels that emphasise the interconnectedness and contributions of ocean efforts across all Sustainable Development Goals.

Taking place within the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030), it will also be the first UN Ocean Conference since the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework, the Agreement on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, and the second conference since the World Trade Organisation Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.

The conference presents a key opportunity to build on these milestones to protect the ocean.

Last year, as part of preparations for UNOC3, the UN System in Georgetown and the French Diplomatic Office in Guyana co-organised an edition of ‘Blue Talks’, a multi-stakeholder discussion and debate involving more than 40 partners working on ocean health in Guyana.

During the meeting, participants discussed food, fishing, livelihoods, raising finance for ocean sustainability, the value of ocean science, and eliminating marine pollution.