Third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) (Nice, 9-13 June 2025) [fr]

• France committed to preserving the ocean

Oceans cover over 70% of the Earth’s surface. The ocean is a regulator of major environmental balances, a provider of vast resources and biodiversity, an important enabler of trade, and an essential link between countries and human communities. However, it is now being threatened by multiple pressures such as the effects of climate change, pollution and the overexploitation of marine resources.

“Protecting the oceans means protecting an immense carbon sink and unimaginable biodiversity reserves. It also means giving hope to all those whose lives depend on our oceans, and to those who will have to face rising sea levels.It means together reinventing the blue economy, as it must never be forgotten that the sea is first and foremost a source of income, jobs, food and innovation for peoples around the world.

In 2015, we managed to inscribe this ambition in a universal UN framework thanks to the Paris Climate Agreement. In 2025, in the same vein, the conference in Nice will be foundational for ocean governance. The Nice Ocean Agreements will provide a framework in which the scientific community will gather to inform and guide the climate action of Heads of States and Government, as is the case with the IPCC. The UN Ocean Conference should become the forum for States and the private sector to invest together to reinvent the ocean economy. Lastly, the Ocean Conference should become a forum for solidarity, where we help developing countries adapt to the new blue economy and to the fight against illegal fishing, and a forum where we help local governments adapt to rising sea levels.

We hope to see you in Nice in 2025 for a resolutely action-focused conference.”

• An action-oriented conference

This third Ocean Conference will seek to support the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14) on the marine environment (currently the least funded of all SDGs) with three priorities, in order to produce an ambitious draft agreement:

-Working towards completion of multilateral processes linked to the oceans, to boost ambition for their protection;
-Mobilizing sources of finance to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development (SDG 14) and support the development of a sustainable blue economy;
-Strengthening and better disseminating knowledge linked to marine science to enhance policy-making.

The Nice Ocean Action Plan, made up of a political declaration and a list of voluntary commitments from stakeholders, will be adopted following international discussions during the Conference.

The United Nations Ocean Conference will take place over 5 days, from 9 to 13 June 2025.

Each morning, there will be plenary sessions where UN Member States will make statements on their commitment to the ocean. Each afternoon, there will be two dialogue sequences bringing together Member States, UN organizations and civil society representatives (NGOs, scientists, companies). These dialogues, known as “Ocean Action Panels”, will encourage commitment from various stakeholders, the creation of coalitions and projects for the ocean. They will allow the Conference to be a driver of action by proposing concrete solutions with all participants.

To register, the second and final session will open on 4 November: https://sdgs.un.org/conferences/ocean2025

• Programme in parallel with international discussions

Three special events

Events accredited by the United Nations and UNOC co-organizers will be proposed in parallel to the conference.

- 4-6 June 25: One Ocean Science Congress (Nice) 
Organized with the Ifremer oceanographic institute and the CNRS (French National Centre for Scientific Research), the One Ocean Science Congress will bring together over 2,000 international scientists. Their mission will be to:

       - Identify innovative indicators and solutions for ocean health,
       - Support the creation of the International Panel for Ocean Sustainability (IPOS) and the intergovernmental organization Mercator Ocean International (MOi).

- 7 June 2025: Ocean Rise & Resilience Coalition (Nice)
Organized by the city of Nice and the Ocean & Climate Platform, the Ocean Rise & Resilience Coalition Summit will invite elected representatives and leaders of coastal cities and regions, as well as governments of island States under threat from rising sea levels. It will focus on stepping up collaboration and access to knowledge and finance for adaptation to ocean and climate change.

- 7-8 June 2025: Blue Economy and Finance Forum (Monaco)
Organized by Monaco, the Blue Economy and Finance Forum will seek to bring on board Heads of State and Government, business, finance and civil society to invest significantly in the blue economy and sustainable shipping, and to propose innovative blue financing tools.

World Oceans Day Celebrations
- June 2025: World Oceans Day (Nice)
Organized by the United Nations, World Oceans Day will be celebrated in the presence of the world’s main ocean civil society stakeholders. Special attention will be given to the Peoples of the Sea.

Green zone, a zone for the public
From 28 May to 13 June, at Nice Port and the Palais des expositions, there will be a public area dedicated to raising awareness for the protection of oceans and celebrating maritime culture.