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The third UN Ocean Conference, which is co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, is expected to draw thousands of participants from governments, civil society, and the private sector.

The conference will focus on solutions to marine degradation in line with Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water).

The initiative aims to unify marine protection efforts across the EU and establish Europe as a global leader in sustainable ocean governance.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the Oceans Pact, which sets out three key goals:

• safeguarding healthy and resilient marine ecosystems,
• to promote a sustainable blue economy, and
• accelerating ocean science and innovation.
  

It reflects the EU’s growing urgency to respond to climate threats, biodiversity loss, and economic pressures on coastal communities.

In early 2025, a broad public consultation was held across member states to gather input from scientists, NGOs, and maritime industries. The feedback was clear: while bold goals are welcome, follow-through will be essential.

UNOC 2025: A Global Spotlight on Ocean Action

Talks will take place in the Blue Zone at Port Lympia, while the Green Zone, which is open to the public, will be located at Palexpo and will host exhibitions, debates, and cultural events.

Key topics on the agenda include the High Seas Biodiversity Treaty, protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030, reducing plastic pollution, enabling sustainable fisheries, and decarbonizing global shipping.

The conference will conclude with the adoption of the Nice Ocean Action Plan, which is a joint commitment by nations to take real and measurable steps toward ocean recovery.

Whether the European Oceans Pact will be a true milestone for ocean protection depends on how deeply it is implemented, funded, and enforced across Europe’s seas after the conference.

Background Information

The first UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) was held in New York in 2017. The conference aimed to promote global cooperation in protecting the oceans and advancing Sustainable Development Goal 14, which seeks to conserve and sustainably utilize the oceans, seas, and marine resources by 2030.

The second conference, held in Lisbon, Portugal in 2022, focused on translating commitments into concrete actions and fostering international partnerships to address the growing ocean crisis.

The third conference, which is scheduled to take place in Nice in 2025, is a pivotal opportunity to accelerate the implementation of international agreements such as the High Seas Biodiversity Treaty (BBNJ) and encourage innovation and investment in ocean sustainability.

The conference will convene a diverse group of stakeholders, including national governments, intergovernmental organizations, scientists, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private sector representatives, and youth activists.

The conference's success is crucial because the ocean faces mounting threats from climate change, pollution, and overexploitation—challenges requiring urgent, collective, global action.