The UN Ocean Conference 2025 will take place in Nice, France, and will focus on accelerating global ocean conservation efforts.
The UN Ocean Conference 2025 will be held from June 9 to 13 in Nice, France, bringing together leaders and experts from around the world to address urgent ocean-related issues. This critical event will focus on accelerating action to conserve and sustainably use the world’s oceans, seas, and marine resources. Co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, the conference will aim to mobilize global efforts in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14, emphasising the need to protect marine environments and ensure their sustainable use for future generations.
The UN Ocean Conference 2025 will address a range of pressing oceanic challenges, such as marine pollution, overfishing, ocean acidification, and the protection of marine biodiversity. Oceans are essential to the health of our planet, playing a critical role in regulating the Earth’s climate, producing oxygen, and supporting a diverse range of marine life. The conference will seek to identify practical, actionable solutions to these problems, ensuring that the ocean remains healthy and viable for generations to come.
The focus of the UN Ocean Conference 2025 will be on accelerating global action on ocean conservation. Oceans support life on Earth and help maintain its delicate climate balance, yet they are severely threatened by human activities. Overfishing, plastic pollution, and the effects of climate change, including ocean acidification, are pushing marine ecosystems to the brink of collapse.
One key aim of the UN Ocean Conference 2025 is to expand Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). MPAs are areas where human activity is limited to protect marine life. Expanding these zones will help preserve vital ecosystems, allowing marine life to recover and thrive. The conference aims to achieve lasting solutions to these challenges with the support of international stakeholders, including government bodies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the scientific community, and local communities.
The UN Ocean Conference 2025 will also prioritize sustainable fishing practices. The continued depletion of fish stocks is a major concern, especially for coastal communities that rely on fishing for their livelihoods. The conference will discuss adopting and enforcing sustainable fishing methods that protect fish populations while supporting the global economy. This initiative is part of the broader push to meet the targets of SDG 14 and ensure the sustainable use of ocean resources for generations to come.
Plastic pollution is one of the most visible threats to marine ecosystems, with millions of tons of plastic waste entering the oceans yearly. The UN Ocean Conference 2025 will address this growing problem, focusing on reducing plastic waste and improving waste management systems globally. Participants will work together to find ways to tackle plastic pollution at the source and prevent further damage to marine life.
The conference will also explore innovative financing mechanisms for ocean conservation, helping to secure long-term funding for ocean protection initiatives. These financial tools will ensure that conservation efforts are sustainable and that marine ecosystems receive the support they need to recover from years of exploitation.
See also: All the Major Climate Events of 2025
The UN Ocean Conference 2025 will build upon the successes of previous conferences, including those held in New York in 2017 and Lisbon in 2022. Each of these events has contributed to creating global awareness and laying the foundation for international collaboration on ocean conservation. The Nice conference will continue this momentum, forging stronger partnerships and encouraging more countries and organizations to commit to concrete actions that protect the ocean.
The outcome of the UN Ocean Conference 2025 will be critical to the future health of our oceans and, by extension, the planet. The conference aims to protect marine ecosystems and ensure their sustainable use for future generations by addressing urgent ocean issues and fostering international collaboration.
