• The UN Ocean Conference is a global gathering that addresses issues related to the ocean. The United States convenes the conference.

The 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference, co-organized and co-organized by France and Costa Rica, is currently underway in the French city of Nice.

The Conference was launched on June 9 is expected to run until June 13, 2025.

Governments are expected to adopt a political declaration and registry of voluntary commitments by the name Nice Ocean Action Plan for the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean in supporting Sustainable Development Goal 14 on life above and below the water.

The UN Ocean Conference is a global gathering that addresses issues related to the ocean. The United States convenes the conference.

The objective of the conference is to catalyze urgent action required to conserve and sustainably use the ocean, seas, and other marine resources for sustainable development. Generally, the effort is geared towards supporting the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14.

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The 2025 conference has prioritized three things as follows;

1. Work towards completing multilateral processes associated with the ocean.

2. Mobilize financial resources for SDG 14 and support the development of a sustainable blue economy.

3. Strengthen and better disseminate marine science knowledge to enhance policymaking.

The ocean is crucial in supporting all life. It covers 70 per cent of Earth’s surface. However, it is under exceptional strain essentially due to human activities and carelessness.

Some of the threats facing the ocean include climate change, pollution, overfishing, fragmented governance, and underinvestment, among others. More than 600 million people around the globe depend on fisheries for a livelihood. This sector sustains approximately 100 million jobs worldwide.

This week-long event is expected to accelerate global action by mobilizing all stakeholders, including government leaders, policymakers, businesses, academia, civil society, and beyond, to urge them to use the ocean sustainably while supporting local livelihoods.

Trade is at the core of shaping the future of sustainable ocean development. This is because approximately 80% of the world's merchandise trade is carried by the sea.

UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) will be in attendance at the conference led by Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan. Their comprehensive agenda is published online for access.

To Leverage the high-profile conference, the UN Trade and Development will seek to spotlight the vital role of trade in fostering sustainable and inclusive ocean economies.

This will be particularly relevant to marine-based food systems, non-plastic substitutes such as seaweed, maritime transport, coastal community climate resilience, and equitable development.

Governments and accredited organizations in the Blue Zone will contribute by leading Ocean Action Panel 6. The focus will be on advancing sustainable ocean-based economies, maritime transport, and coastal community resilience.

The ongoing 3rd UN Ocean Conference, in collaboration with UN Trade and Development, is building on the momentum from the 5th UN Ocean Forum, which concluded in March 2025. The forum delivered 15 action-oriented recommendations.

In addition, the conference will build on previous similar conferences, such as the 2017 one hosted by Sweden and Fiji in New York and the one hosted by Portugal and Kenya in 2022 in Lisbon.

As the conference unfolds, we need to remember that the ocean's health is a global responsibility. It affects everyone, from those living near the coast to those in the inland areas.