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UN Ocean Conference 2025 | From Geneva to Nice

Last updated: 18 Jun 2025

Water | Nature

SDG14

The high-level 2025 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development (the 2025 UN Ocean Conference) will be co-hosted by France and Costa Rica and held in Nice, France, from 9 to 13 June 2025.

About the 2025 UN Ocean Conference

The high-level 2025 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development (the 2025 UN Ocean Conference) will be held in Nice, France, from 9 to 13 June 2025, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica.

The overarching theme of the Conference is “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean”. The Conference, comprising an opening segment, ten plenary sessions, ten Ocean Action Panels and a closing segment,  aims to support further and urgent action to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development and identify further ways and means to support the implementation of SDG 14. It will build on existing instruments to form successful partnerships towards the swift conclusion and effective implementation of ongoing processes that contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean. The Conference shall adopt, by consensus a brief, concise, action oriented and intergovernmentally agreed declaration, which along with a list of voluntary commitments, will be referred to as “Nice Ocean Action Plan”.

The Conference will involve all relevant stakeholders, bringing together Governments, the United Nations system, intergovernmental organizations, international financial institutions, other interested international bodies, non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, academic institutions, the scientific community, the private sector, philanthropic organizations, Indigenous Peoples and local communities and other actors to assess challenges and opportunities relating to, as well as actions taken towards, the implementation of Goal 14, and will build on the previous UN Ocean Conferences, hosted by Sweden and Fiji in 2017 in New York and by Portugal and Kenya in 2022 in Lisbon.

The UN Secretary-General has appointed the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Mr. Li Junhua, as the Secretary-General of the Conference to oversee its preparations; and the Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs, Mr. Miguel de Serpa Soares, as Special Adviser to the Presidents of the Conference on ocean and legal matters.

Official Website
UNOC3 Presidency Website

Outcomes

The 2025 UN Ocean Conference concluded in Nice, France, on 13 June. It brought 15,000 participants, including more than 60 Heads of State and Government, and:

Nice Ocean Action Plan

Among expected outcomes, the Conference shall adopt, by consensus a brief, concise, action-oriented and intergovernmentally agreed declaration, referred to as “Nice Ocean Action Plan”. Consultations and negotiations, facilitated by Cabo Verde and Australia, have been ongoing since last year and resulted in the release of the Zero Draft on 13 December 2024. Additional informal consultations took place respectively on 24 February 2025 and 10 March 2025 following the roadmap. After this first round of informal consultations, a revised draft will be circulated and the Political Declaration for adoption was circulated on 1 May 2025.

Preparatory Process

  • June 2024 | From 7 to 8 June 2024, Costa Rica organized a High-Level Event on Ocean Action: Immersed in Change in San Jose to contribute to the UNOC3 and its outcomes.
  • July 2024 | As mandated in the General Assembly resolution 78/128, the President of the General Assembly convened a preparatory meeting, on 2 July 2024 at United Nations Headquarters in New York, chaired by the two host countries of the Conference, Costa Rica and France, to consider the themes for the Ocean Action panels and elements for the declaration, taking into the call by Member States for a brief, concise, action-oriented and intergovernmentally agreed declaration. → Rewatch the session and access related documents.

Preparatory Events in Geneva

Ahead of the 2025 UN Ocean Conference, various events were held in Geneva. In the upcoming months, the Geneva Environment Network and its partners will organize additional events dedicated to UNOC3.

Ocean Investment Protocol: Aligning financial flows with the transition to a Sustainable Ocean Economy

28 May 2025

UN Global Compact & UNEP FI 

The Ocean Investment Protocol provides a framework for financial institutions, insurers, development banks, and ocean-based industries to align with Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water) and related objectives. By proactively managing environmental risks and leveraging sustainable opportunities, the finance industry can play a pivotal role in shaping a thriving, resilient ocean economy.

Ocean Blue Talks

Costa Rica & France

The Permanent Missions of Costa Rica and of France to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva hosted various “Ocean Blue Talks” to prepare the UNOC3 Conference.

5th United Nations Ocean Forum on trade-related aspects of Sustainable Development Goal 14

3 – 5 March 2025

UN Trade & Development

The 5th UN Ocean Forum was a pivotal platform for stakeholders to shape global trade-related ocean policies by delivering policy recommendations; contributing to the Blue Economy and Finance Forum in June 2025 and the 16th UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD16) in October 2025.

The Threats of Deep-Sea Mining | Geneva Rights and Environment Talks | Geneva Minerals & Resources

13 March 2025

Geneva Human Rights, Biodiversity and Land Task Force, Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council, Earthjustice, Geneva Environment Network

Leading experts joining the panel of this event will stress the risks of deep-sea mining and the violations of fundamental rights it can imply and highlight the effective protection instruments addressing the threats.

Ocean Issues are Human Rights Issues | HRC58 Side Event

13 March 2025

Geneva Human Rights, Biodiversity and Land Task Force, Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council, Earthjustice, Geneva Environment Network

The side event to the Human Rights Council aims to discuss the report of the Special Rapporteur, including in the context of the implementation of right to a healthy environment. It aims to address the importance of a holistic, comprehensive, integrated, gender-responsive and human rights- and ecosystem-based approach to the ocean, with the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment at the centre.

Ocean Defenders and Communities at Risk | Geneva Rights and Environment Talks

17 March 2025

Geneva Human Rights, Biodiversity and Land Task Force, Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council, Earthjustice, Geneva Environment Network

The progress made in protecting ocean spaces has been largely due to the commitment of so-called “ocean defenders”. However, human rights violations against ocean defenders and coastal and marine communities are increasing with the expansion of harmful activities in marine and coastal environments, alongside inadequate preventive and protective measures from States and businesses.

Will the Ocean Remain Blue? How Marine Pollution Violates Fundamental Rights | Geneva Rights and Environment Talks

17 March 2025

Geneva Human Rights, Biodiversity and Land Task Force, Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council, Earthjustice, Geneva Environment Network

The Special Rapporteurs on the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment and on toxic substances and human rights will share some of the outcomes of their respective work.

Geneva @ UN Ocean Conference 2025

Highly engaged in the process, actors and stakeholders from International Geneva have provided written submissions on concept papers and the Themes of Ocean Action Panels: OHCHR | UNDRR | UNOPS.

Various Geneva-based organizations will be present and contribute to the conference.

Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy

The Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy actively initiates, enables and implements changemaking initiatives to build unique and impactful solutions for biodiversity, including for ocean governance.

Business for Nature

Business for Nature collaborates with many of our coalition partners who are championing stronger business engagement for the ocean. To support business engagement in the UN Ocean Conference, Business for Nature endorses the Business Call to Action – “Land and Sea, a Vital Connection for a Thriving and Resilient Economy” and participates in various relevant business events.

CIEL

Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) experts will be in Nice advocating how halting offshore expansion of how oil and gas activities, as well as mineral resource extractions is essential for protecting our oceans, addressing climate change, and ensuring biodiversity resilience. Governments must recognize the impact of fossil fuels on the ocean and commit to their phase-out through ocean-based climate mitigation action, according to CIEL.

CITES

CITES, as one of the conventions of the biodiversity cluster, was present in Nice and engage in various events.

Convention on Wetlands

The mission of the Convention on Wetlands is “the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world,” including marine and coastal wetlands.

IUCN

IUCN will be organizing events ahead and during UNOC3 and has prepared key documents:

UNDRR

As extreme weather events intensify and sea levels rise, coastal communities remain on the frontlines of the climate crisis. The UN Secretary-General’s Early Warnings for All initiative aims to ensure that every person is protected from hazardous weather, water, and climate events by 2027 – but achieving this vision requires stronger local action

UNECE

UNECE will be at 2025 UN Oceans Conference, co-organizing a side event on the role of transboundary cooperation to enable source-to-sea management to advance SDGs.

UNEP FI

Through its Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Initiative (SBE FI), UNEP FI is supporting this shift by helping financial institutions align capital flows with ocean health.

UN Trade & Development

At the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference, UN Trade and Development will build on momentum from the 5th UN Ocean Forum held earlier this year, which delivered 15 action points and underscored trade’s vital role in shaping a sustainable and inclusive ocean economy.

We Mean Business Coalition

We Mean Business Coalition will be at the UN Ocean Conference through the participation in various business-focused events, including the The Blue Economy and Finance Forum taking place on 8-9 June 2025.

WEF

The World Economic Forum is facilitating private sector participation at UNOC, supporting partners and private sector stakeholders with accreditation to the official programme.

WMO

WMO participates in the 2025 UN Ocean Conference focusing on the use of science and ocean observations to protect people from ocean hazards and – increasingly – to protect the ocean from human activities.

WTO

WTO is at the 2025 UN Ocean Conference, participating in high-level dialogues and generating momentum for the Fisheries Subsidies agreement.

WWF

WWF deveoped a Team Ocean Playbook presenting 20 key recommendations for halting and reversing the loss of nature in the ocean and will be at UNOC3 to advance these priority recommendations, including: 

Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention)

The Water Convention will be at 2025 UN Oceans Conference, co-organizing a side event on the role of transboundary cooperation to enable source-to-sea management to advance SDGs.

UNOC Special Events

One Ocean Science Congress

The One Ocean Science Congress, taking place from 4-6 June 2025 in Nice, France, aims to provide Heads of State, Government, all participants of the third United Nations Ocean Conference, and the broader society, with comprehensive scientific insights on the ocean’s health, dynamics and future trajectory, on its conservation and sustainable uses, and on the services and benefits it provides to humanity. The congress aims to explore various scenarios for the ocean in terms of the changing pressures it faces, its resilience, its restoration ability and the impact on public policy and management practices at local and global levels. It will assess the ocean’s capacity to support significant transitions as outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly Sustainable Development Goal 14, which promotes the conservation and sustainable use of marine and coastal ecosystems. Building on this wealth of knowledge, science-based recommendations will be formulated to the Heads of State and Government, who will meet in Nice at UNOC3, and to the wider international community, urging them to prioritize the ocean within the sustainable development framework and to increase funding for research into ocean solutions, infrastructure and the intersection of ocean policy and society.

Ocean Rise and Coastal Resilience Coalition Summit

The Ocean Rise and Coastal Resilience Coalition Summit will take place on 7 June 2025, Nice, France and will convey elected representatives and officials from major coastal cities and regions, as well as from island States threatened by rising sea levels. The Summit will mark the official launch the Ocean Rise and Coastal Resilience Coalition. The Coalition will support coastal cities by planning and implementing the transformations required to address sea level rise through the organization of exchange of practices on solutions to be implemented and strengthen access to, sharing and use of scientific knowledge and data; the mobilization of public and private players in the financial sector to participate in the design and implementation of financial mechanisms adapted to the specific needs of cities and regions;  and advocacy for the interests of coastal cities and regions, strengthening their representation and leadership in political forums, international conferences and summits.

Blue Economy and Finance Forum

The Blue Economy and Finance Forum will take place on 7 and 8 June 2025 in Monaco. By gathering experts, policymakers, investors and innovators from around the world, the Forum will highlight and promote the critical role that sustainable investment, cutting-edge innovation, and forward-thinking policies play in ensuring the long-term health and prosperity of our oceans and economies alike. The BEFF will serve as a platform to exchange ideas, foster collaboration, and showcase the latest developments in the blue economy, with a clear focus on creating a resilient and thriving ocean ecosystem that benefits present and future generations. Heads of state, companies, financiers and civil society will meet to make significant financial commitment to the blue economy and propose innovative blue financial tools.

Other Events

  • Our Oceans, Our Sovereignty, Our Future. 2nd Conference of the Ocean Peoples: Defying Colonial Capitalism | World Forum of Fisher Peoples | 8 & 9 June 2025 | Zoom
  • Ending Plastic Pollution: Spotlight on East and Southeast Asia | One Ocean Science Congress Side Event | OECD, Japanese Ministry of the Environment and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies | 6 June 2025 | 11:30 – 12:15 CEST

Role of Geneva

While Geneva is in a land-locked country with little direct connection to the ocean, the challenges and opportunities faced by the ocean remain high on the agenda of several Geneva-based organizations. Plastic pollution, overfishing, climate change impacts, marine biodiversity, blue economy and many relevant issues are at the heart of Geneva’s work on ocean governance.

  • Pollution: as one of the global clusters for chemicals and waste governance, Geneva is playing a key role on the issue of marine litter and plastic pollution. Geneva hosted the first ever Ministerial Conference on Marine Litter and Plastic Pollution in September 2021, and helped build momentum to launch the process toward a international legally-binding agreement on plastic pollution.
  • Ecosystem restoration: Several Geneva-based institutions are actively working to protect, conserve and restore marine ecosystems. These include some of the major international conservation organizations, such as the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
  • Human Rights: Geneva hosts the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the UN Human Rights Council meets at the UN Office at Geneva, making it a global hub for human rights. Human well-being, livelihoods and survival are highly dependent on a healthy ocean and a human rights approach is fundamental to address the negative effects of ocean degradation, which disproportionately affect vulnerable communities such as Indigenous Peoples, coastal communities, small scale fishers, ship workers and persons with disabilities.
  • Labour and Workers: As home to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Geneva is at the forefront of the promotion of social justice and internationally recognised human and labour rights. From The Maritime Labour Convention (2006), which protects the right of the world’s 1.5 million seafarers to decent conditions of work in almost every aspect of their working and living conditions;  to the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188),  ensuring decent work in fishing; and to dedicated workstreams on ports and inland waterway sectors, the ILO protects the rights of workers employed in ocean-related activities.
  • Acidification and warming: Geneva hosts the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the highest scientific authority on climate change, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which provides extensive work on the impacts of climate change on the ocean.
  • Overfishing: over the past decades, this topic has been a core issue of environmental governance in Geneva, as negotiations on fisheries subsidies are led at the World Trade Organization (WTO). These negotiations are supported by additional actors in the region such as the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) is also actively working to stop Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing practices through data sharing and guidance.
  • Scientific knowledge: Geneva is also actively advancing sound scientific understanding of the ocean, its ecosystems, and its connections with all spheres of human activity, most notably through the work of the WMO, the IPCC and the Group on Earth Observations (GEO).
  • Sustainable Use of Ocean Resources: Several organizations are working on the issues of blue economy and blue finance, such as the UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
  • Implementing Sea Law: Geneva hosts the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which regulates trade for various marine species.
Action for the Ocean in International Geneva

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