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UNOC3 Adopts Political Declaration to Boost Ocean Finance

  • 17 Jun 2025

On 13th June 2025, the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) concluded in Nice, France, with nations adopting a political declaration to support the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14) for ocean conservation.

Key Points

  • SDG 14 Underfunded: The declaration acknowledged that SDG 14 is the least funded among all UN Sustainable Development Goals, requiring $175 billion annually by 2030, while receiving less than $10 billion between 2015–2019.
  • Call for Scaled-Up Support: The declaration calls for increased funding, especially for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs), including grants, non-debt instruments, and concessional finance.
  • Three Key Changes Highlighted: Greater investment, better science-policy interface, and faster implementation of international frameworks like the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.
  • 30x30 Marine Protection Goal: Countries committed to conserving 30% of marine areas by 2030; 50 ratifications were confirmed for the High Seas Treaty (BBNJ), short of the 60 needed for entry into force.
  • Nice Ocean Action Plan: The voluntary "Nice Commitments" include 2,635 pledges from nations and stakeholders to strengthen ocean conservation and blue economy initiatives.
  • EU’s Ocean Commitment: The European Union pledged €1 billion to ocean health, sustainable blue economy, maritime security, and research, including €45 million for adaptation projects under Horizon Europe.
  • Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): New MPAs were announced by Samoa, French Polynesia, Colombia, Tanzania, and Sao Tome & Principe, increasing protected ocean areas from 8% to nearly 11%. However, only 2.7% are effectively protected.