The third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, concluded in Nice with a powerful message urging world leaders to move beyond pledges and start implementing real change to protect the planet’s oceans. Over the course of 11 days, the conference brought together more than 15,000 participants, including 50 heads of state and government, scientists, civil society organizations, Indigenous leaders, and youth activists. The event was widely hailed as a major moment for ocean diplomacy, testing how serious the international community is about delivering on ocean conservation.
“This conference has been a resounding success,” declared Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, France’s Special Envoy for the Ocean. “We close not just with hope, but with concrete commitments, clear direction, and undeniable momentum.”
Costa Rica’s Foreign Minister Arnoldo André Tinoco echoed this optimism, praising the inclusive nature of the summit. “Together with France, we worked toward an action-oriented conference where all actors are represented and where finance and science go hand in hand,” he said.
Under-Secretary-General Li Chunhua, the Secretary-General of the conference, provided a reality check by reminding attendees that actions must follow words. “The real test is not what we said here but what we do next. The wave of change has formed. Now, it is our collective responsibility to propel it forward.”
Among the most significant developments at UNOC3 was progress toward ratifying the High Seas Treaty, formally called the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement. With 51 countries having now ratified the treaty, the number required to bring it into force is just nine short of the 60 needed. Once active, the treaty would pave the way for the creation of marine protected areas in international waters, advancing the goal of protecting 30 percent of the ocean by 2030.
In addition to this progress, over 800 new voluntary commitments were announced through 10 multi-stakeholder Ocean Action Panels. These initiatives covered a wide range of issues including marine pollution, safeguarding deep-sea ecosystems, financing ocean protection, and honoring the role of Indigenous peoples in ocean stewardship.
Several major initiatives launched during the summit included:
- The One Ocean Finance Facility, designed to address the large funding shortfall in ocean conservation.
- The European Ocean Pact, aimed at enhancing cooperation for sustainable ocean management across European nations.
- The Ocean Rise and Coastal Resilience Coalition, which seeks to support communities most vulnerable to sea-level rise.
The conference also saw growing global resistance to deep-sea mining. Four more countries joined the call for a moratorium, bringing the total to 37. “More and more countries are listening to science and the demands of youth for their common heritage over commercial interests,” said Tinoco.
However, while the commitments were numerous, not everyone was satisfied. Environmental groups expressed disappointment that the conference didn’t deliver stronger, legally binding decisions, especially regarding deep-sea mining. Megan Randles, who led the Greenpeace delegation, voiced this concern bluntly: “We’ve heard lots of fine words here in Nice, but these need to turn into tangible action. Countries must be brave and make history by committing to a moratorium on deep-sea mining at next month’s International Seabed Authority (ISA) meeting.”
Randles acknowledged the progress on the High Seas Treaty but felt it was still insufficient. “The deep sea should not become the wild west,” she warned, referencing a recent remark made by UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
Activists also highlighted the importance of the upcoming negotiations in Geneva this August for a Global Plastics Treaty. Ninety-five governments signed the “Nice Call for an Ambitious Plastics Treaty,” but there are serious concerns that industry lobbying, particularly from oil and petrochemical sectors, could weaken the agreement.
“The world cannot afford a weak treaty dictated by oil-soaked obstructionists,” said John Hocevar, Oceans Campaign Director at Greenpeace USA. “Governments need to show that multilateralism still works for people and the planet, not the profits of a greedy few.”
Indigenous and coastal communities played a visible and vocal role at UNOC3. Their presence was especially prominent in the “Green Zone” located in La Valette, which hosted over 100,000 visitors and featured events ranging from grassroots panels to art exhibitions and youth forums.
Nichanan Thantanwit, Project Leader at the Ocean Justice Project, underscored the vital role of Indigenous voices in ocean protection. “There is no ocean protection without the people who have protected it all along. Governments must recognize small-scale fishers and Indigenous peoples as rights-holders and secure their role in ocean governance,” she said. She also condemned environmentally harmful practices such as bottom trawling and industrial aquaculture, noting that these “drive ecological collapse and human rights violations.”
While the French government hosted the event and President Emmanuel Macron reiterated his backing of a deep-sea mining moratorium—describing it as “an international necessity”—some conservationists felt France had not fully lived up to its leadership role. Enric Sala, National Geographic Explorer in Residence and founder of Pristine Seas, expressed disappointment with France’s performance. “This was France’s moment, but instead of making a splash, its impact was more of a ripple,” he said.
Sala acknowledged the positive actions of countries that announced new marine protected areas but added that the overall tone of the conference leaned heavily toward talk rather than decisive action. “We heard many policymakers speak about what needs to be done—yet few took the bold steps necessary to protect the ocean,” he said, adding that the event was “heavy on rhetoric, light on resolve.”
Looking ahead, a political declaration known as the “Nice Ocean Action Plan” is expected to be released soon. Though non-binding, it could play a significant role in shaping decisions at the ISA meeting in July and the plastics treaty negotiations in August.
Under-Secretary-General Chunhua shared that both South Korea and Chile have expressed interest in hosting the next United Nations Ocean Conference. “We want the positive momentum generated in Nice to amplify even further in UNOC4,” he stated.
As the curtain falls on UNOC3, there is a sense of optimism, but the question remains: Will this gathering result in meaningful change? Greenpeace’s Randles offered a closing reflection that captured the spirit of many attendees: “This must not be where it ends. It must be where it truly begins.”