This week marks the third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC), which is taking place in Nice and is co-hosted by France and Costa Rica. The event brings together governments, civil society, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, the private sector and others with the aim of furthering progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 14, “Life Below Water”.

Under the theme of ‘Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean’, the conference will span five days of dialogue, solution sharing and partnership building. The conference will feature ten focused sessions – known as Ocean Action Panels – where experts and stakeholders will explore practical solutions to key ocean challenges. These panels will cover a range of topics, including fisheries management, ocean finance, marine pollution and climate change.

A group of marine experts from UNEP-WCMC is in attendance at the conference to provide technical and policy assistance, prepare briefings and give support to the Ocean Action Panels. Here, they explore some of the main issues that are being discussed on these panels, and explain how the Centre’s work fits in.

Conserving, managing and restoring marine and coastal ecosystems

Helen Klimmek, Programme Officer

Marine and coastal ecosystems, including deep-sea habitats, are vital to planetary health and human well-being. However, these ecosystems are under increasing threat from the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.

UNEP-WCMC manages the World Database on Protected Areas and World Database on Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures, which measure progress towards global area-based conservation targets. However, as highlighted by the Protected Planet Report 2024, achieving these targets requires more than just expanding area coverage: effective management and equitable governance are vital. UNOC provides an extremely important opportunity to advance national commitments in all parts of the world to strengthen not just the coverage but also the quality of marine protected and conserved areas. It is also an opportunity to drive ratification of the framework to protect biodiversity in the high seas through the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement.

A number of barriers hinder conservation and restoration efforts – from insufficient coordination across sectors to the marginalization of Indigenous Peoples as well as  local communities. Meanwhile, destructive fishing practices continue to cause irrevocable damage to habitats and adverse environmental impacts.

Marine planning and governance are often considered in isolation, but they need to be embedded within broader sustainable development, climate and economic strategies. Integrated governance is a recurring priority across all Ocean Action Panels and Marine Spatial Planning is often highlighted as a practical way of aligning conservation goals and reducing conflict. A recent review we conducted found that Marine Spatial Planning can also help address local issues such as water security, food system resilience and energy planning.

Meanwhile, as climate change impacts intensify, coastal communities are particularly vulnerable and so adaptation is increasingly important. UNEP-WCMC has developed guidance and tools on how to incorporate nature-based solutions to make coastal adaptation more inclusive, sustainable and climate-smart.

UNOC provides an opportunity to highlight the essential role of these tools and approaches, and accelerate their uptake around the world.

Mobilizing finance for ocean action

Emma Lockerbie, Programme Officer

Despite positive developments in ocean finance over the past decade, ocean health continues to decline, and the sustainable ocean finance gap is widening. To reverse this trend, governments and other stakeholders must create enabling environments for investment, accountability and integrated marine governance.

Integrating nature into corporate and financial decision-making is essential for a sustainable blue economy. UNEP-WCMC is a Knowledge Partner of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures, which aims to shift financial flows away from nature-negative outcomes towards nature-positive, risk-aware investments – including those in the ocean economy. However, the private sector still needs more guidance and capacity building, along with a deeper understanding of the strong connections between land-based pressures and negative impacts on the ocean. This would help dispel the myth that only maritime transport, fisheries and aquaculture significantly harm marine environments.

There is also a need to strengthen government capacity to mobilise private finance for ocean biodiversity protection and restoration. This includes approaches such as public-private partnerships, innovative financing mechanisms, and creating an enabling environment for investment.

Momentum is building towards more integrated and effective approaches to ocean governance and biodiversity protection, with concrete examples showing how finance, policy, and environmental action can come together to drive meaningful progress. Conference co-host Costa Rica, for instance, has expanded its marine protected areas while pioneering effective legal reform and financial innovation at a national scale to support biodiversity goals. The Ocean Action Panels taking place this week, including those focused on sustainable finance, innovation, and inclusive governance, offer a chance to reflect on such leadership and consider how similar approaches might be adapted and scaled in other contexts.

There is an exciting opportunity to develop new tools to support sustainable and inclusive ocean activities. Rapid advancements  technology present an exciting opportunity to enhance sustainable and inclusive ocean activities. Tools such as remote sensing, AI-powered ecological monitoring and open-source digital platforms allow for real-time tracking of changes in ocean health and human impact. Investing in these data systems not only improves the precision and cost-effectiveness of marine management and conservation, but also builds the foundation for evidence-based decision-making.

Supporting cooperation and inclusivity in ocean science

Diana Serrano, Senior Programme Officer

Effective marine governance depends on cross-sectoral cooperation between all those who use and benefit from the ocean, from governments and research bodies to fisheries and tourist boards. This means bridging the gaps between science, policy and society. Creating the conditions for shared understanding and joint action is vital.

Data should be made available through open-access, user-friendly platforms so that new findings are easily accessible. The Ocean Census project, supported by UNEP-WCMC, demonstrates how data systems can ensure technical accessibility and interoperability as well as respectful and ethical engagement with those who generate and use the data. The approach is grounded in inclusive and equitable consultation and sustained collaboration with global data networks.

Building on this foundation, collaborative, multi-stakeholder initiatives are key to exchanging knowledge, respecting diverse perspectives, and aligning science with both policy goals and local priorities.

Regional collaboration is also a key enabler of impact. UNEP’s Regional Seas Programme brings together governments, scientists, civil society, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities to implement regional frameworks supporting coordinated action on marine and coastal issues and sustainable development. Aligning these efforts with global frameworks such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework helps increase coherence, strengthen political buy-in, and reduce duplication.

Inclusion and equity are integral to sustainable ocean management and feature prominently across the Ocean Action Panels. Groups including women, youth, and Indigenous Peoples and local communities are often disproportionately affected by climate change and biodiversity loss, including declining fish stocks and rising sea levels. Many hold deep, place-based knowledge and long-standing sustainable practices such as traditional fishing and community stewardship, yet their perspectives remain all-too-often marginalized in formal decision-making.

Creating more equitable governance requires targeted financial and practical support to ensure these groups can participate fully, from policy development to implementation and monitoring. Ocean science must go beyond conventional disciplines; integrating social science and local and traditional knowledge is essential to more just and effective ocean stewardship.

Joining the dots between ocean, climate and biodiversity

Rowana Walton, Programme Officer

Ocean, climate and biodiversity systems are deeply interconnected. The ocean regulates the global climate by absorbing vast amounts of carbon dioxide and is home to a rich diversity of life, while also sustaining livelihoods around the world. Yet governance frameworks often fail to reflect these linkages, leading to fragmented, inefficient and at times incoherent responses.

With global threats including ocean warming, acidification and sea level rise accelerating due to climate change, there is an urgent need to shift away from disconnected policy responses. Promoting integrated and collaborative ocean management, where conservation, climate adaptation, and sustainable use are aligned, is essential to addressing interconnected challenges and building long-term ecological and societal resilience.

Global initiatives including the UN Decade on Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and the International Coral Reef Initiative play an important role in scaling up coordinated action. They also help build continuity and strengthen connections across intergovernmental processes and conventions including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Inclusive, accessible and policy-relevant data is essential for understanding the connections between climate, biodiversity and ocean systems. Systems including the Global Ocean Observing System and the Ocean Biodiversity Information System support transdisciplinary research, track climate and ecological trends and enable evidence-based decision making. In parallel, ocean accounts offer a structured way to compile standardized data across environmental, ecological, economic and societal dimensions, supporting decisions that balance economic growth, sustainable use, conservation and long-term societal wellbeing

UNEP-WCMC supports the development and uptake of marine monitoring systems that inform policy design, implementation and monitoring. By translating scientific advances into practical tools, these efforts help ensure that biodiversity data can be used effectively in decision-making processes. For example, the OBAMA-NEXT project combines cutting-edge technology, scientific innovation and local stakeholder engagement to strengthen marine biodiversity observation and monitoring.

As discussions continue in Nice, we hope that the conference will build further momentum for sustainable approaches, strengthen the resolve of all parties to work together, and galvanize action for our ocean.

Main image: Sweep over Seaweed Forest, Great Southern Reef, Australia. Photo: Stefan Andrews / Ocean Image Bank