Nice, France to Host UN's Third Ocean Conference Aimed at Ocean Conservation

Next week, from June 9 to 13, 2025, the coastal city of Nice, France, will host the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC 3), a pivotal gathering aimed at addressing the escalating crisis facing the world's oceans.

Co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, UNOC 3 seeks to accelerate global efforts in conserving and sustainably using ocean resources. The conference will focus on finalizing multilateral agreements, mobilizing financial resources, and enhancing marine science knowledge to inform policy-making. A key outcome will be the adoption of the "Nice Ocean Action Plan," a concise, action-oriented declaration accompanied by voluntary commitments from stakeholders.

This is the third UN Ocean Conference, following previous conferences in New York (2017) and Lisbon (2022). Each has built upon the last to advance Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14): "Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development."

The oceans are facing unprecedented threats, including rising temperatures, acidification, pollution, and overfishing, leading to biodiversity loss and disrupted marine ecosystems. The ocean has buffered climate impacts by absorbing heat and carbon dioxide, but this has led to adverse outcomes like warming, acidification, coral bleaching, biodiversity loss, and disrupted marine ecosystems.

The conference will feature ten plenary sessions where UN Member States will make statements on their commitment to the ocean, and ten Ocean Action Panels designed to encourage commitments and propose concrete solutions.

Several special events are scheduled in conjunction with the conference:

• One Ocean Science Congress (June 4-6): Organized by CNRS and Ifremer, this congress aims to provide scientific insights on ocean health and support the creation of the International Panel for Ocean Sustainability (IPOS).

• Ocean Rise and Coastal Resilience Coalition Summit (June 7): Co-organized by the City of Nice and the Ocean & Climate Platform, focusing on collaboration and access to knowledge and finance for adaptation to ocean and climate change.

• Blue Economy and Finance Forum (June 7-8): Co-organized by Monaco, this forum aims to mobilize significant financial commitments to the blue economy and propose innovative blue financing tools.

UNOC 3 will focus on three main priorities:

1. Completion of Multilateral Processes: Advancing international agreements related to ocean protection to boost global conservation efforts.

2. Mobilization of Financial Resources: Securing funding to conserve and sustainably use marine resources, supporting the development of a sustainable blue economy.

3. Enhancement of Marine Science Knowledge: Strengthening and disseminating marine science knowledge to inform policy-making.

The outcomes of UNOC 3 are expected to influence international policies, funding allocations, and collaborative efforts aimed at ocean conservation. The conference underscores the necessity for a unified global response to the ocean crisis, involving governments, intergovernmental organizations, civil society, and the private sector.

As the world grapples with the escalating ocean crisis, UNOC 3 represents a critical juncture for global leaders to commit to actionable solutions that will safeguard marine ecosystems for future generations.