The 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) was held in Nice, France, from June 9 to 13, 2025, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica. It aimed to advance Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14): conserving and sustainably using oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development. The theme was “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean.” Below is a detailed overview based on available information:

• Purpose: The conference sought to address urgent ocean challenges, including climate change, pollution, overfishing, and biodiversity loss, while mobilizing global action to achieve SDG 14, the least-funded SDG. It built on previous conferences (New York 2017, Lisbon 2022) and aimed to produce the Nice Ocean Action Plan, comprising a political declaration and voluntary commitments.

• Priorities:

1. Completing multilateral ocean-related processes (e.g., High Seas Treaty, plastic pollution negotiations).
2. Mobilizing finance for SDG 14 and sustainable blue economies.
3. Strengthening marine science for better policy-making.

Ocean Action Panels: Ten panels focused on critical themes like marine ecosystem restoration, sustainable fisheries, blue finance, and ocean science cooperation. These multi-stakeholder dialogues proposed concrete solutions.

Structure and Events

• Main Conference (June 9–13):
• Morning plenary sessions featured statements from UN Member States.
• Afternoon Ocean Action Panels included governments, NGOs, scientists, and private sector representatives.

Over 2,000 delegates, including heads of state, attended, with traditional performances like the “call of the conch” opening the event.

Precursor Events:

• One Ocean Science Congress (June 4–6, Nice): Organized by CNRS and IFREMER, it gathered 2,000+ scientists to advance ocean research and inform policy.

Blue Economy and Finance Forum (June 7–8, Monaco): Focused on sustainable ocean-based economic models.

Ocean Rise & Coastal Resilience Coalition (June 7, Nice): Launched to support coastal cities and islands against rising sea levels, led by Nice’s Mayor Christian Estrosi.

Ocean Decade Forum: Part of UNESCO’s Ocean Decade (2021–2030), it reviewed progress and showcased science-based actions.

Key Outcomes and Commitments

• Nice Ocean Action Plan: Adopted by consensus, it included:
• A concise, action-oriented political declaration.
• A registry of voluntary commitments from stakeholders.
• Notable Announcements:
• The EU committed nearly €1 billion to ocean action, ratified the High Seas Treaty (BBNJ), and launched the International Platform on Ocean Sustainability (IPOS).

Discussions advanced on the UN Plastics Treaty and the 30x30 biodiversity target (protecting 30% of marine areas by 2030).

Calls for stronger action against deep-sea mining and illegal fishing.

Civil Society Engagement: Initiatives like “Let’s Be Nice to the Ocean” and “A Call to All Voices of the Ocean” amplified NGO and community voices.

• Criticism: Some, like National Geographic’s Enric Sala, expressed disappointment, noting only 8–9% of oceans are protected and practices like bottom trawling persist, even in host country France.

Context and Challenges

• Ocean Crisis: The ocean, covering 70% of Earth, faces rising temperatures (16 zettajoules of heat added from 2023–2024), acidification, plastic pollution, and collapsing fish stocks. Rising sea levels threaten coastal communities.
• Funding Gap: SDG 14 requires an estimated $175 billion annually until 2030, highlighting the need for innovative financing.

Global Solidarity: Emphasis was placed on supporting developing nations, especially Small Island Developing States, in adapting to the blue economy and combating illegal fishing.

India’s Role

While specific details on India’s participation at UNOC3 are limited, India has historically engaged in ocean governance:

• Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA): India leads efforts for regional ocean sustainability.
• Sagarmala Project: Aligns with blue economy goals, modernizing ports and coastal infrastructure.
• Marine Research: India’s National Institute of Oceanography contributes to global ocean science.
• Potential Contributions: At UNOC3, India likely advocated for sustainable fisheries, marine biodiversity, and climate resilience, given its 7,500+ km coastline and dependence on marine resources.

Sentiment and Impact

• Positive Momentum: Leaders like UN Secretary-General António Guterres and French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized multilateralism and science-based action.
• Urgency: Guterres highlighted the ocean as a “shared resource” under threat, urging ambitious commitments.

Mixed Reactions: While the conference was praised for fostering partnerships, some X posts reflected skepticism about enforcement, with concerns over ocean jurisdiction and industrial regulation.

Additional Information

Registration: Open to accredited NGOs, governments, and stakeholders via UN processes.

Cultural Engagement: Events like the “TIDAL SHIFTS” exhibition on World Oceans Day (June 8, 2025) promoted ocean literacy through art and science.