Charting the Blue Future: Reflections on the 2025 UN Ocean Conference in France

Held from June 9 to 13, 2025, in Nice, France, the   Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) convened at a critical juncture for global ocean governance. Facing mounting pressure from climate change, rampant overfishing, accelerating biodiversity loss, and the emerging challenges of deep-sea mining, the conference brought together world leaders, scientists, civil society, and the private sector. Under the unifying theme of “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean,” and jointly hosted by France and Costa Rica, this pivotal event sought to renew political momentum for fully implementing Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water) and accelerate the ratification and enforcement of newly adopted international frameworks. The urgency was palpable, especially as the 2024 Sustainable Development Goals Report revealed that only 16% of the SDG targets are on track for achievement by 2030—while SDG 14 is among the goals showing the least progress.

A Decisive Shift Towards Implementation and Accountability

Unlike the first UN Ocean Conference in New York (2017) and the second in Lisbon (2022), which primarily focused on raising awareness and generating voluntary commitments, the 2025 conference in Nice marked a decisive shift toward concrete implementation and accountability. It was the first such global gathering held after the landmark adoption of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement , also called the High Sea Treaty, and the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. This timing underscored a new era characterized by a heightened focus on legally binding commitments and tangible progress. Moreover, the conference significantly elevated the role of robust ocean science, centered Indigenous voices, and amplified youth-led initiatives, reflecting a growing and essential recognition of more inclusive and knowledge-based approaches to ocean governance.

Landmark Outcomes and Renewed Commitments

The 2025 conference delivered several significant and eagerly anticipated outcomes, notably a historic number of ratifications for the BBNJ Agreement. These newly deposited ratifications have brought the Treaty much closer to the critical threshold of 60 needed for its entry into force. China, through its Vice President Han Zheng, also expressed support for the BBNJ Agreement’s early entry into force and full operation, highlighting its role in balancing biodiversity conservation and sustainable use.

This landmark treaty empowers the international community to establish marine protected areas (MPAs) in the vast, unprotected high seas and provides a framework for the equitable sharing of benefits from marine genetic resources, accelerating the “30×30” goal of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). Building on this momentum, several leading countries made significant commitments to expand MPAs.

French Polynesia pledged to establish the world’s largest MPA, covering its entire Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of approximately 5 million square kilometers, with 1.1 million square kilometers designated as strictly protected areas. This showcases a powerful example from a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), which despite contributing only 0.1% to global GDP, manages 7% of the world’s ocean areas. Spain committed to creating new MPAs, increasing its protected marine territory to 25%. Additionally, Pacific island nations launch plan for world’s first Indigenous-led ocean reserve. 

Addressing Non-Traditional Security Threats and Systemic Governance

The conference also saw renewed pledges to combat pervasive plastic pollution and rampant illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, with over 50 countries collectively committing to implement stringent port state measures and substantially expand their maritime surveillance capacities. The discussions emphasized that sustainable fisheries are not just an ecological issue but also a matter of social justice and governance reform, highlighting the critical role of small-scale fishers who contribute significantly to global catch and livelihoods.
There was a strong call to accelerate the implementation of the 2022 WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, with only nine more member ratifications needed for its entry into force to curb harmful subsidies.

Furthermore, the conference pushed for a systemic approach to governance, recognizing the intertwined nature of ocean health, climate change, and biodiversity loss. Delegates emphasized that solving any one issue requires treating all three as an integrated whole, with calls for countries to incorporate ocean governance goals into their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under climate frameworks. The critical role of “blue carbon ecosystems” like mangroves and seagrass beds in carbon sequestration, and marine protected areas as ecological infrastructure against climate impacts, were highlighted.

New Global Alliances and the Nice Ocean Action Plan

To drive specific actions, multiple governments and the UN launched three key alliances: the High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean, led by Panama and Canada with 35 participating countries, marked the first high-level political initiative to globally address marine noise pollution. Additionally, the Ocean Tourism Pact, driven by the French government and its partners, outlined an industry-wide commitment for sustainable coastal and marine tourism, often referred to as “blue tourism.” Finally, One Ocean Finance, a collaborative design process launched by UN agencies and global partners, aimed to unlock billions in new financing from ocean-dependent industries and blue economy sectors. Critically, the conference formally adopted the Nice Ocean Action Plan political declaration, a consensus document agreed upon by over 170 nations. This ambitious plan calls for concrete actions such as expanding marine protected areas, decarbonizing shipping, combating marine pollution, and mobilizing finance for
vulnerable coastal and island states, while also compiling over 800 voluntary commitments made
since the last UN Ocean Conference.

Towards a Rules-Based Blue Future

The conference strongly reaffirmed the importance of an ocean governance system centered on the rule of law, with UNCLOS as its guiding principle. The ability of UNCLOS to adapt to new agreements, like the BBNJ Agreement and the ongoing negotiations for a Plastic Pollution Treaty, was highlighted. The conference also stressed that the rule of law in ocean governance must uphold principles of common but differentiated responsibilities, ensuring that rules not only regulate powerful actors but also safeguard the development and participation rights of developing nations. As the UN Secretary General António Guterres stated, the deep sea “cannot become the Wild West,” urging its protection as the common heritage of mankind.

Building on this momentum, the 3rd UN Ocean Conference served as both a moment of reflection and a call to action. It reminded the global community that a sustainable and equitable blue future depends not just on science and financing, but on the political will to strengthen multilateralism, respect international law, and ensure that ocean governance truly serves the interests of all—especially those most dependent on the ocean for their livelihoods, culture, and survival. The next five years will be critical in determining whether this vision becomes reality.