The oceans of the world stand at a crossroads. As the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) takes place in Nice, France, from June 9 to 13, leaders, scientists, and civil society are there under the shadow of what the UN has termed an “ocean emergency.” The Nice Ocean Agreements, the highlight of this summit, aim to step up action and engage all stakeholders to conserve and sustainably use the ocean. Everyone’s question is whether or not these agreements will be a turning point in ocean governance across the world or just another set of good intentions.
The Urgency of Ocean Action
A Crisis in Numbers
Oceans occupy more than 70 percent of the entire world and represent an important role in climate regulation, biological diversity, food security and trade. Still pressures are mounting. Over 30 few percent of world fish stocks have been overfished and pollution by plastic is set to dominate the fish biomass by 2050 unless there is a turnaround to this. Marine ecosystems have been brought to their extreme by climate change, overfishing, unregulated pollution, and the pending deep-sea mining.
The UN’s call for an “ocean emergency” is no exaggeration
Ocean health underpins the livelihoods of billions and the survival of whole nations, particularly small island developing states. The 2025 conference is a reaction to this growing crisis and offers a chance to go beyond rhetoric to tangible, measurable change.
The 2025 UN Ocean Conference: Structure and Stakeholders
A Truly Global Gathering
Nice The third high-level UN summit on the oceans, hosted together with France and Costa Rica, followed by previous editions in New York (2017) and Lisbon (2022). Over 50 heads of state and government and the United Nations, intergovernmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, academia, corporate sector, Indigenous Peoples and local communities are attending.
The conference theme, “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean,” emphasizes urgency and joint action. The event includes ten plenary sessions and ten Ocean Action Panels and covers all the way from marine science to blue economy financing and the protection of vulnerable ecosystems.
Building on Past Commitments
UNOC3 does not begin from a blank slate. It draws on the past of the Paris Agreement and past ocean conferences and aims to increase the level of ambition for ocean conservation and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14): “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development”.
The Nice Ocean Agreements: What’s on the Table?
The Nice Ocean Action Plan
Core to the conference is the Nice Ocean Action Plan, a brief, action-oriented political declaration that will be adopted by consensus. The document will feature a political declaration and a series of voluntary commitments by governments, businesses, and civil society.
Three core priorities encapsulate the Nice Ocean Agreements:
- Shining a spotlight on the conclusion of ocean multilateral processes to increase ambition for ocean conservation.
- Raising finance for SDG14 and facilitating the growth of a sustainable blue economy.
- Strengthening and sharing ocean science for improved policy-making.
French President Emmanuel Macron has cast the summit as “foundational for ocean governance,” calling for a global framework that unites science, policy, and action. “Saving the ocean equals saving a gargantuan carbon sink and unimaginable reserves of biodiversity,” Macron declared.
Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves Robles seconded the sense of urgency: “May our commitment be as vast as the ocean that feeds us!”
Key Issues and Challenges
Overfishing and Marine Biodiversity
The issue of overfishing prevails. Over one third of the world’s fish stocks are being overexploited putting food security and livelihoods of millions of people at risk. Nice Ocean Agreements will enhance global collaboration in mediums of fisheries management and rein in illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Plastic Pollution and Deep-Sea Mining
The other immediate concern is plastic pollution. By 2050, there will be more weight of plastics in the ocean than fish provided nothing is done about it. The conference is likely to pave the way for more robust international engagements to curb plastic wastes, enhance recycling, and facilitate the current talks towards a global plastics treaty.
Deep-sea mining is becoming a disputable problem. Although others consider it as the source of critical minerals, a number of scientists and NGOs are issuing warnings on irreversible damage to these delicate marine life. The Nice Ocean Agreements would probably require taking a precautionary approach which entails considering economic gains and the protection of the environment.
Climate Change and Ocean Health
This means that the ocean is the planet with the largest possible carbon sink that can absorb approximately a quarter of all emissions regarding CO 2. Nevertheless, its capacity to stabilize the climate is being compromised by warming, acidification and deoxygenation. The Nice Ocean Action Plan is likely to incorporate ocean-based climate actions and request more investment into maritime science and observation.
The Role of Science, Finance, and Solidarity
Mobilizing Resources for the Blue Economy
The summit is all about a sustainable blue economy. The need to mobilize public and private funds towards protecting the ocean, sustainable fishery and resilient coastal communities was viewed as vital in the accomplishment of SDG 14. Innovative funding mechanisms and partnerships were identified as aspects that require attention by the Blue Economy and Finance Forum that was hosted in Monaco before the conference.
Science as a Foundation for Policy
Marine science is emphasized in the conference. The empowerment and transferring of science knowledge are regarded as central to wise decision-making and good ocean management. The Nice Ocean Agreements transfers the idea of the IPCC to the ocean so that a robust framework is constructed to influence policy by the best available knowledge.
Solidarity with Vulnerable Nations
Pacific Island nations and other vulnerable countries have utilized the summit to make appeals for existential danger because of increasing sea levels, depleting fish populations, and water bodies full of plastic. “Our voices need to be heard if the ocean is going to stay healthy and productive for communities’ survival,” Pacific leaders have insisted. The conference is likely to demand increased assistance to developing nations to adapt to ocean issues and fight illegal fishing.
From Promises to Action: The Test Ahead
Voluntary Commitments and Accountability
The Nice Ocean Agreements will be a catalog of voluntary actions, from national action plans to private sector initiatives. While these are good signs of intent, the test will be following through. Previous ocean conferences have witnessed lofty promises, but lagging implementation.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres summed up the stakes: “The ocean is in trouble. We must act now to protect it for future generations.” The task for world leaders in Nice is to make sure that the Action Plan is not just a symbolic gesture.
Monitoring Progress and Building Momentum
One of the major innovations in the Nice summit is the monitoring and reporting. The conference will set up the mechanisms of monitoring the progress on commitments and good practices. This openness will be aimed at holding governments and stakeholders accountable to ensure that they produce tangible results.
The Path Forward
The Negotiations will allow establishing a new rationale regarding global ocean governance and bringing words to deeds. It has to be seen whether leaders will keep their promises. The future of the summit will hinge on the readiness of governments, business and civil society to breathe life into the promises through concrete action to realize the goals of the world into action with regard to the oceans.
Nice is the place the world is watching because the future of the ocean, by implication the planet, balances on its success or failure. The next few years will demonstrate whether the Nice Ocean Agreements are going to do the hard work of speeding things up and producing the sustainable, resilient oceans necessary to human survival.
