Yachting Art Magazine

As the health of our oceans continues to deteriorate, the United Nations is bringing together leaders, researchers, economic actors and civil society in Nice in June 2025 to develop a global response to the multiple pressures facing the maritime environment. This global conference aims to clarify priorities for action, assess commitments made and accelerate the cooperation needed to restore our oceans in crisis.

The third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) will open in Nice from 9 to 13 June 2025. Jointly hosted by France and Costa Rica, it is part of a series of major events designed to advance Sustainable Development Goal 14 of the 2030 Agenda, which focuses on protecting the marine environment. Halfway through the commitments made in 2015, this conference aims to take stock of the situation, structure monitoring mechanisms and propose concrete measures to reverse current trends.

To this end, UNOC3 aims to align local, national, regional and international approaches within a more coherent governance framework. The challenge is to promote coordinated decisions and ensure better coordination between science, public policy, financial capacity and realities on the ground.

A shared warning about ocean degradation

Despite the many commitments made at previous conferences (New York in 2017, Lisbon in 2022), ocean health indicators remain worrying. Overfishing, plastic pollution, acidification linked to CO₂ emissions and the degradation of coastal ecosystems are weighing heavily on the resilience of marine environments. Reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) confirm the urgent need for collective action.

The Nice conference therefore aims to mobilise concrete resources, encourage States to honour their commitments and integrate scientific knowledge more fully into political decision-making. It also seeks to strengthen mechanisms for monitoring, alerting and evaluating the commitments made at previous conferences.

Fragmented governance must be overcome

One of the main limitations of current initiatives is the fragmentation of efforts and insufficient coordination between the many actors involved in ocean management. More than 30 UN agencies and intergovernmental institutions are involved in ocean-related issues, often without any real strategic coherence. This fragmentation complicates the implementation of effective policies and the optimal use of resources.

In response, UNOC3 is seeking to promote a more integrated architecture capable of bringing together international institutions, States, local authorities, academia and the private sector around a common set of principles and actions. The creation of a global framework for monitoring commitments – an ‘ocean dashboard’ – is under consideration.

Five priorities for action by 2025

The conference preparation document defines five major areas for discussion:

1. International governance: establish enhanced cooperation between multilateral institutions, improve evaluation and coordination mechanisms, and ensure consistency of mandates.
2. Science and data: strengthen scientific capacity, facilitate access to marine data, encourage innovation and support interdisciplinary research programmes.
3. Sustainable financing: mobilising public and private funds, developing appropriate financial instruments such as blue bonds and marine carbon credits.
4. Ecosystem resilience: protecting marine habitats, restoring degraded ecosystems and integrating climate considerations into all maritime policies.
5. Social inclusion: involve local communities, indigenous peoples, women and young people in decision-making and governance of maritime areas.

A decisive meeting for maritime stakeholders

More than 10,000 participants are expected in Nice, including heads of state, ministers, representatives of international organisations, scientists, businesses, NGOs and journalists. Dozens of side events will complement the plenary sessions, allowing different stakeholders to present their projects, share their expertise and propose concrete solutions.

The conference will also feature a high-level political segment on 11 June, where world leaders will make formal commitments and sign cooperation agreements. The issues of marine protected areas, the fight against illegal fishing and the regulation of maritime transport are among the key topics for discussion.

The link between the local and global levels as a lever for action

One of the main objectives of UNOC3 is to promote greater consideration of local dynamics in international strategies. Many coastal communities, particularly island and overseas territories, are experimenting with innovative sustainable resource management schemes. The conference aims to provide them with a platform to showcase these initiatives and encourage their replication on a larger scale.

In addition, the role of young people, researchers and civil society will be highlighted. Citizen forums, participatory workshops and exhibitions are planned throughout the week, with a particular focus on including audiences that are distant from decision-making processes.

A pivotal moment on the horizon in 2030

With five years to go before the deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Nice conference represents a critical opportunity to refocus global ocean policy. While ambitions are high, their realisation will depend on the willingness of States to translate words into action, strengthen their cooperation and mobilise the necessary resources.