Third United Nations Oceans Conference (UNOC)-2025

Recently, the third United Nations Oceans Conference (UNOC), held in Nice, France, concluded with commitments aimed at safeguarding the planet’s marine ecosystems.

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Key Highlights

• High Seas Treaty Nears Enforcement: Fifty-six of the required sixty countries have ratified the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement (aka High Seas Treaty).
• It enables the creation of marine protected areas (MPAs) in international waters, regulate marine genetic resources, and mandate environmental impact assessments.
• The European Commission pledged 1 Billion Euro to support ocean conservation and sustainable fishing.
• French Polynesia announced plans to establish the world’s largest marine protected area, covering its entire exclusive economic zone—about five million square kilometers.
• Over 170 countries adopted the Nice Ocean Action Plan, a political declaration paired with more than 800 voluntary commitments.
• These range from youth advocacy to deep-sea ecosystem literacy and capacity-building in marine science.
• A growing coalition of nations called for a precautionary pause on deep-sea mining, citing its potential to irreversibly damage fragile marine ecosystems.
• India pledged to ratify the High Seas Treaty and proposed a 10-point roadmap for sustainable ocean governance. It includes:
  • Expand Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)
  • Scale Up the Blue Economy
  • Reduce Marine Pollution
  • Promote Offshore Renewable Energy
  • Support the Global Plastics Treaty
  • Invest in Ocean Science and Technology
  • Strengthen Coastal Resilience
  • Ensure Equitable Access to Marine Resources
  • Pause Deep-Sea Mining
  • Foster Global Partnerships