The Third United Nations Conference on the Oceans held in the French Mediterranean city of Nice, 9-13 June 2025 brought together 174 national delegations and a large number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and scientists working on ocean issues. There were 64 heads of State or Government present despite serious world tensions elsewhere.
"This Conference has been a resounding success. We close not just with hope, but with concrete commitments, clear direction and undeniable momentum." said Olivier Poivre d'Avor, France's Special Envoy for the Oceans. The United Nations secretariat led by Li Junhua, head of the U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Secretary-General of the Conference, was very active in preparing the Conference as was the secretariat of UNESCO, long active on Ocean issues. The NGOs were coordinated in a coalition: The High Seas Alliance.
One of the achievements of the Conference was progress on the ratifications of the treaty "Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), a treaty to halt the current erosion of biodiversity. Currently, there are 56 ratifications with 60 needed for entry into force. The Conference received pledges of 14 more state ratifications.
Another advance was the signing of the "European Ocean Pact" which brings together oceanographic institutes, national governments, transnational corporations, and NGOs with the aim to move the oceans from a viction of exploitation and ignorance to a platform for cooperation and peace for sustainable ocean management.
The Third U.N. Conference on the Oceans has created advances for positive ocean management. As Citizens of the World, we need to see that these advances are put into practice.
René Wadlow, Association of World Citizens
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