With this spirit, the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference kicked off in the French city of Nice, concluding its sessions on Friday, June 8, amid growing concern over the alarming indicators of the deteriorating health of the world’s oceans. The summit emphasized the urgent need to accelerate ocean protection efforts and concluded with a wide range of significant outcomes and ambitious implementation steps.
Around 60 world leaders gathered for the event. During the summit, French President Emmanuel Macron highlighted its success, stating:
“Never before have so many heads of state and government come together to discuss ocean affairs.”
"The Most Significant Achievement of the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference"
The Most Significant Achievement of the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice
الأكثر قراءة
The most significant milestone of the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice was the ratification—or official commitment—by a sufficient number of countries to the High Seas Treaty. Once fully ratified, this agreement will support the globally agreed target of protecting 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030.
The treaty will also provide the first legal mechanism to establish marine protected areas in the high seas—the international waters that cover nearly two-thirds of the ocean. Only around 11 more countries are needed for the agreement to officially enter into force, which is expected to happen by January 2026, according to The Guardian.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the pace of progress as unprecedented, commenting:
“I see momentum and enthusiasm that have been hard to come by in the past.”
Creation of the World's Largest Marine Protected Area
During the summit, Moetai Brotherson, President of French Polynesia—a vast territory of more than 1,000 islands—announced the creation of the world’s largest marine protected area, covering 5 million square kilometers. This zone encompasses the country's entire exclusive economic zone and will restrict harmful activities such as bottom trawling and deep-sea mining, according to the official website of the United Nations.
Global Financial Commitments to Ocean Protection
The European Commission, as part of the Ocean Pact, announced a €1 billion investment to support ocean conservation, science, and sustainable fishing. Meanwhile, New Zealand pledged over US$52 million to enhance ocean governance, management, and marine science in the Pacific Island region.
Additionally, Indonesia, the World Bank, and other partners launched the Coral Bond—a pioneering financial instrument designed to mobilize private capital for the conservation of coral reef systems within Indonesia’s marine protected areas. Several other countries also contributed to numerous ocean-related initiatives.
Emphasis on the “BBNJ” Agreement
The United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice reaffirmed support for the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), adopted in June 2023. This agreement is a crucial legal instrument aimed at protecting marine life and ecosystems in the two-thirds of the ocean that lie beyond the jurisdiction of any single country.
In a major step toward its entry into force, 19 additional countries have ratified the agreement, and 20 more have signed it, bringing the total to 136 signatories and 50 ratifications, including the European Union. Just 10 more ratifications are required for the agreement to be formally implemented.
The BBNJ Agreement is part of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and addresses the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
