UN Ocean Conference 2025 Ends: Global Calls For Action to Save Our Seas
Nice, France – June 2025, The United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC 3) has officially wrapped in Nice, France, marking a watershed moment for ocean protection and climate diplomacy.
Over 15,000 participants, including heads of state, scientists, youth leaders, Indigenous voices, and private sector champions, united with a single purpose: to safeguard the world’s oceans and restore marine health.
“We leave Nice with undeniable momentum and over 800 new commitments for ocean action,” declared Li Junhua, UN Under-Secretary-General and Secretary-General of the Conference.
A Sea of Solutions
Hosted by France and Costa Rica, the conference focused on solutions—from scaling up blue finance to empowering local communities and leveraging marine science. Major global initiatives were launched or expanded, including:
- The European Ocean Pact
- The One Ocean Finance Facility
- The Ocean Rise and Coastal Resilience Coalition
The event’s 10 Ocean Action Panels issued bold, forward-looking recommendations on plastic pollution, climate resilience, Indigenous leadership, and more.
French Special Envoy Olivier Poivre d’Arvor praised the global unity and scientific collaboration that defined the summit.
“The ocean knows no borders. This is not the end—it’s the start of a decisive new era,” he said.
Costa Rican Foreign Minister Arnoldo Tinoco echoed the call to action, emphasizing that implementation is now the priority. “The ocean can no longer wait.”
What’s Next?
With Republic of Korea and Chile bidding to host UNOC 4, and momentum building toward COP30, CBD COP16, and High Seas Treaty implementation, the global ocean agenda is surging forward.
“The wave of change has formed,” Li concluded. “Now, it’s our collective responsibility to carry it to shore, for people, planet, and future generations.” He added
