The UN Oceans Conference is an important UN conference that specifically focuses on the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water.
It is relatively new having held its first edition in New York in 2017 (UNOC1,hosted by Sweden and Fiji) and its second in 2022 in Lisbon (UNOC2, hosted by Portugal and Kenya).

Timeline of Conferences:

2017: First conference in New York, co-hosted by Fiji and Sweden
2022: Second in Lisbon, co-hosted by Portugal and Kenya
2025: Third in Nice, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica
2028: Fourth conference to be hosted by Chile and South Korea

Origin: The idea to convene a high-level United Nations Conference on oceans traces itself back to the Rio Convention of 2012 and the “2030 Agenda” adopted in 2015, which outlines the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The conference is officially organized by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), which oversees SDG implementation, but host countries change.
Multistakeholder approach: Participants include countries, UN organizations, NGOs, the scientific community, private sector companies, Indigenous peoples and local communities.
- Like other major UN summits, heads of state and high-level representatives are in attendance, and civil society has an important role to play.
UNOC’s agenda is carried out through plenaries, high-level debates and dialogues with the aim of galvanizing support for initiatives and for announcing national commitments. Furthermore, it provides momentum for other UN processes such as the Climate COP, Biodiversity Convention and the Global Oceans Treaty.
How does the conference advance SDG14: Life Below Water?
- The conference is all about raising commitments and establishing innovative initiatives.

3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC-3)

The 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) took place from June 9 to 13, 2025, in Nice, France, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica
The event’s theme was “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean”
The Conference sought to support the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG14 – Life Below Water), with three main priorities, to produce an ambitious Nice Ocean Action Plan:
- Priority 1: Working towards completion of multilateral processes linked to the ocean
- Priority 2: Mobilizing finance resources for the SDG14 and supporting the development of a sustainable blue economy
- Priority 3: Strengthen and better disseminate knowledge linked to marine sciences to enhance policy-making
Aim: The third edition of the UNOC aimed to accelerate action on protecting oceans.
Its main goal was to establish marine-protected areas in international waters and thereby prevent over-fishing as well as deep-ocean mining.
Hence, a key objective of the UNOC is to get countries to commit to the BBNJ(Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement).
- Once in force, the treaty will create marine protected areas beyond national jurisdiction, conduct environmental impact assessments, regulate marine genetic resources, and support capacity-building for developing nations.
Outcomes
- The Nice Ocean Action Plan is the outcome of the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference-3 and consists of a political declaration called “Our Ocean, Our Future: United for Urgent Action” and over 800 voluntary commitments by various actors
- High Seas Treaty (BBNJ Agreement): Critical progress was made—additional countries ratified the treaty.

Outcomes in Detail

The Marine Biodiversity Treaty (BBNJ Agreement)

In a big step towards entry into force of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), 19 more States ratified the Agreement in the margins of the Conference, and 20 more signed it.
- The treaty requires 60 ratifications to trigger a 120-day countdown before becoming legally binding. UNOC saw progress with 56 countries ratifying it. The U.S. hasn’t ratified it as has India, though the latter has said it is in the “process” of doing so

Voluntary commitments made during the Conference include:

The European Commission, as part of its Ocean Pact, announced an investment of 1 billion EUR to support ocean conservation, science and sustainable fishing.

French Polynesia pledged to create the world’s largest marine protected area to safeguard its seas, covering its entire exclusive economic zone, approximately 5 million square kilometres (1.93 million square miles).

New Zealand committed over 52 million US dollars towards supporting enhanced ocean governance, management and science in the Pacific Islands region.

Germany launched a 100 million EUR immediate action programme for the recovery and clearance of legacy munitions in the German Baltic and North Seas – the first of its kind.

Indonesia, the World Bank and other partners launched a Coral Bond, a groundbreaking financial instrument designed to mobilize private capital to conserve coral reef ecosystems within marine protected areas in Indonesia.

Thirty-seven countries, led by Panama and Canada, launched the High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean — the first high-level political initiative to tackle ocean noise pollution on a global scale.

Italy committed 6.5 million EUR to strengthen surveillance by the Coast Guard in marine protected areas and on oil platforms, including through a satellite surveillance system capable of detecting potential oil spills in real time.

Canada contributed 9 million US dollars to the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance to help Small Island Developing States and coastal developing countries increase their resilience to the impacts of climate change through nature-based solutions.

Spain committed to creating five new marine protected areas that would allow protection of 25% of its marine territory.

A collective of United Nations agencies and global partners launched a co-design process for One Ocean Finance — a bold new effort to unlock billions in new financing from ocean-dependent industries and blue economy sectors.
- One Ocean Finance seeks to deliver triple-win outcomes: accelerating industry transition, restoring ocean health, and supporting resilient coastal communities.
- Despite the ocean’s central role in global trade, food security, climate regulation, and livelihoods, Sustainable Development Goal 14 remains the least funded, with less than USD $10 billion invested between 2015 and 2019—far short of the estimated $175 billion needed annually.
  - To address this widening finance gap, One Ocean Finance seeks to mobilize new and diverse sources of capital, especially from ocean-linked sectors, and deploy them through blended financial instruments that can de-risk innovation and unlock private investment.

FAQs

1. What is the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC)?

The UNOC is a global platform to advance SDG 14: Life Below Water, encouraging commitments and collaboration for ocean protection. The first conference was held in 2017.

2. Who organizes the UN Ocean Conference?

It is convened by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), and co-hosted by rotating member states.

3. What was the theme of the 3rd UNOC held in 2025?

The 2025 conference in Nice, France focused on “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean.”

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