From June 9–13, 2025, France and Costa Rica will co-host the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, bringing together around 100 world leaders, scientists, activists, and business representatives to tackle the growing crisis facing the world's oceans.

The ocean sustains life, drives economies, and regulates the climate—yet it is under unprecedented threat. Every year, over eight million tons of plastic pollute marine environments, while over a third of fish stocks are overexploited. Rising sea levels, acidification, and ecosystem destruction further compound the problem.

A Call for Action
A decade after the landmark Paris Agreement, UNOC3 seeks to deliver tangible commitments for ocean protection. Key goals include:

• Strengthening global ocean governance, including the ratification of the BBNJ Agreement, which would regulate the high seas—currently a lawless zone covering 60% of the ocean.

• Boosting funding for marine conservation and sustainable "blue economy" initiatives.

• Expanding scientific research to better understand and protect marine ecosystems.

France hopes the conference will produce the "Nice Ocean Agreements", a new international pact to safeguard marine biodiversity and ensure sustainable use of ocean resources.

"The ocean is not just an environmental issue—it's a matter of survival," organizers emphasized. With multilateral cooperation under strain, the summit is seen as a critical test of global commitment to protecting our shared seas.

Sierra Leone is among nations urged to ratify the BBNJ Agreement before the conference begins. 

"One in three people relies on the Ocean for their livelihood, yet the Ocean is in danger. It's an area that is still largely unknown, and lacks the global governance and funding necessary for its preservation," Luc Briard, the Ambassador of France in Guinea and Sierra Leone said Wednesday, "The figures are worrying: more than eight million tons of plastic end up in the Ocean every year, according to a study published in the journal Science. Moreover, more than a third of fish stocks suffer overfishing, while ocean acidification, rising sea levels and the destruction of marine ecosystems gain pace, as direct consequences of climate change."

"We must act now," the ambassador said. "More than ever before, we must make sure that multilateral action is equal to the challenges of protecting the Ocean."