The third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) kicked off on Monday in the scenic coastal city of Nice, France. Under the theme “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean,” this pivotal event aims to address the pressing challenges facing our oceans.
Co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, UNOC3 brings together delegations from UN member states, international organizations, scientists, civil society groups, and private sector leaders. Their mission: to discuss and advance global ocean governance.
The conference is a significant step toward achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG14): “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources.” With our oceans under increasing threat from pollution, overfishing, and climate change, the need for collective action has never been more urgent.
Three Key Priorities
UNOC3 is focusing on three main priorities:
Boosting Ocean Protection Ambitions: Working towards the successful completion of ocean-related multilateral processes to elevate efforts in safeguarding marine environments.
Mobilizing Funding and Supporting the Blue Economy: Securing financial resources for SDG14 and promoting the sustainable development of ocean-based economies.
Enhancing Marine Science for Policymaking: Strengthening and sharing marine science knowledge to inform better decision-making and policies.
Speaking at the opening session, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the critical state of our oceans. “The ocean is the ultimate shared resource, but we are failing it,” he warned. Guterres called for greater multilateral cooperation and increased investment, noting that SDG14 remains one of the least funded Sustainable Development Goals.
The conference, running until Friday, features 10 plenary sessions and 10 “Ocean Action Panels.” As leaders and experts collaborate, the world watches in hopes of meaningful commitments to protect the oceans for future generations.
