The third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) concluded yesterday in Nice after a productive five days of discussions featuring government leaders, experts, climate advocates, and community representatives.
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With over 15,000 delegates in attendance, including more than 60 heads of state, the summit was a significant gathering that underscored the global commitment to ocean conservation. By the end of the conference, representatives from over 170 countries endorsed a political declaration titled “Our Ocean, Our Future: United for Urgent Action,” commonly referred to as the “Nice Ocean Action Plan.” This plan emphasizes the necessity for urgent action to both conserve and sustainably utilize the world’s oceans.
The declaration sets ambitious goals, including the expansion of marine protected areas, reduction of marine pollution, and increased financial support for coastal and island nations. As noted at the conference, “Collaboration is key; we must act together to protect our precious marine resources.”
Moreover, more than 800 new voluntary commitments were made by countries leading up to and during the summit, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica. Noteworthy highlights included the European Union’s Ocean Pact—a €1 billion commitment aimed at marine life protection and bolstering the blue economy—and French Polynesia’s pledge to establish the world’s largest marine protected area, covering approximately five million square kilometers.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the attendees, highlighting the importance of collective efforts. The summit also saw the launch of the ‘High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean,’ a group of 37 nations spearheaded by Canada and Panama, which includes Ireland, focused on reducing underwater noise pollution.
Among other significant initiatives, Germany unveiled a €100 million plan to clear munitions from World War II in the Baltic and North Seas. Meanwhile, Indonesia, in partnership with the World Bank, introduced a ‘Coral Bond’—an innovative financial tool aimed at raising private capital to protect Indonesia’s coral reef ecosystems.
A pivotal goal of UNOC3 was to encourage further signatories to the High Seas Treaty, formally known as 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. This treaty is designed to establish marine protected zones in international waters, address overfishing, and preserve marine ecosystems. During the conference, 19 countries ratified the treaty, bringing the total to 50; however, a total of 60 ratifications is required for it to take effect globally.
Ireland’s Taoiseach Micheál Martin confirmed to RTÉ News that Ireland would ratify this crucial treaty. As Olivier Poivre D’Arvor, France’s special envoy, stated, “What was decided in Nice cannot be undone. No illegal path is acceptable.” Furthermore, 95 countries rallied behind a French initiative to limit plastic production and consumption, paving the way for upcoming negotiations in Geneva this August aimed at finalizing a global plastics treaty. Alarmingly, the UN reports that up to 12 million metric tons of plastic waste enter oceans each year—equivalent to a garbage truck dumping its load every minute.
However, the summit wasn’t without challenges. The United States notably did not send a high-ranking delegation, a decision seen as unsurprising given President Donald Trump’s recent executive order encouraging the fast-tracking of deep-sea mining licenses—a controversial issue involving the extraction of metals and minerals through seabed dredging. In stark contrast, UN Secretary-General Guterres remarked, “The deep sea cannot become the Wild West,” echoing concerns shared by many in the international community. French President Emmanuel Macron also advocated for a moratorium on deep-sea mining during his opening remarks.
This week underscored a significant rift between the current U.S. administration and many countries striving to protect our oceans. The discussions at UNOC3 reflected a united front among nations on the urgent necessity for ocean stewardship.
Additional reporting by Reuters.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
