UN Ocean Conference Ends with Ambitious Commitments, But Eyes Now on Action

By Thuku Kariuki - The third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), held in Nice, France, concluded on June 13, 2025, with a resounding call to action for the world’s oceans. 

Co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, the five-day summit drew 15,000 participants, including over 60 Heads of State, and culminated in the Nice Ocean Action Plan, a framework of a political declaration and over 800 voluntary commitments to safeguard marine ecosystems. 

As Li Junhua, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, declared, “We close this historic week not just with hope, but with concrete commitment, clear direction, and undeniable momentum.”

The conference, themed around accelerating action for Sustainable Development Goal 14, addressed urgent threats like pollution, overfishing, and climate-driven sea-level rise. 

The Nice Ocean Action Plan builds on previous summits in New York (2017) and Lisbon (2022), featuring pledges ranging from youth advocacy to deep-sea ecosystem literacy and treaty ratifications.

Standout commitments included the European Commission’s €1 billion investment in ocean conservation, French Polynesia’s pledge to create the world’s largest marine protected area (five million square kilometers), and Germany’s €100-million program to clear underwater munitions from the Baltic and North Seas. New Zealand allocated $52 million for Pacific Ocean governance, while Spain announced five new marine protected areas. 

Li Junhua, the UN’s Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs and Secretary-General of UNOC3, at the closing press conference, in Nice. Photo Courtersy UN DESA

A 37-country coalition, led by Panama and Canada, launched the High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean to combat underwater noise pollution, and Indonesia partnered with the World Bank on a ‘Coral Bond’ for reef conservation.

Africa emerged as a central force at Nice. Following an October 2024 continental consultation in Tangier, African States marshaled unified demands for marine protected-area co‑management, climate‑fund access for fisheries, and enhanced regional governance. 

At a June 12 side event co‑hosted by the African Union Commission, AUDA‑NEPAD, IGAD, and AU‑IBAR, leaders launched calls for blue‑bond financing, nature‑based solutions, and inclusive ocean strategies. 

African negotiators also secured vital terms under the High Seas Treaty: 28 signatories and three ratifications, with more pending cementing Africa’s role as a maritime powerhouse. UN Secretary-General António Guterres commended the continent’s leadership, especially given its vast 30,000-kilometer coastline and 38 coastal states.

The summit also marked significant progress on the High Seas Treaty, formally known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, with 19 new ratifications bringing the total to 50 just ten short of enforcement. 

While momentum for the treaty grew, it also exposed geopolitical tensions. France’s special envoy Olivier Poivre d’Arvor emphasized the urgency of transformative change but noted the absence of a senior U.S. delegation, drawing concerns over America’s stance on deep-sea mining.

Costa Rica’s Foreign Minister, Arnoldo André-Tinoco, stressed accountability in financing ocean protection, particularly for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), which pushed for stronger language on climate-induced loss and damage. 

Costa Rica’s President Rodrigo Chaves echoed this by calling for a global moratorium on deep-sea mining, a proposal widely discussed but ultimately left out of the final declaration.

The political declaration, Our Ocean, Our Future: United for Urgent Action, reaffirmed the global goal of protecting 30% of oceans and land by 2030. 

It aligned with major global frameworks such as the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Agreement and the UN International Maritime Organization’s climate goals. Still, the divide between ambition and enforceability lingered beneath the surface.

As the UNOC3 ended, the ocean stood as a silent witness to a fragile yet hopeful promise. With 450 side events and nearly 100,000 visitors, the summit showcased unprecedented global unity. 

Yet, as Li Junhua aptly reminded delegates, “The real test is not what we said here in Nice but what we do next.”

The Nice Ocean Action Plan offers a bold blueprint, but its impact will depend on political will, funding, and the readiness of all nations to protect the ocean’s future for generations to come.

Produced in partnership with Africa 21 Association