By Thuku Kariuki
The third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) brings together governments, scientists, business leaders, fishers, indigenous peoples, and civil society to confront the escalating crisis threatening the lifeblood of our planet.
The ocean, covering over 70% of Earth’s surface, produces half the oxygen we breathe, nourishes billions, supports hundreds of millions of jobs, and underpins global trade. Beyond its tangible benefits, it shapes cultures, anchors identities, and feeds the soul. Yet, humanity’s reckless exploitation—driven by greed—has pushed this vital system to the brink.
UNOC3, with its theme “Accelerating Action and Mobilizing All Actors to Conserve and Sustainably Use the Ocean,” aims to be a turning point, echoing the ambition of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement through the transformative Nice Ocean Action Plan.
The ocean’s plight is undeniable. Fish populations are collapsing due to illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and overexploitation, decimating marine ecosystems.
Climate change fuels ocean acidification and warming, bleaching coral reefs, accelerating sea level rise, and imperiling coastal communities and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Plastic pollution chokes marine life, infiltrating food chains and even human bodies—our blood and brains now bear the traces of our waste.
As UN Secretary-General António Guterres starkly warned at UNOC3’s opening, “When we poison the ocean, we poison ourselves.” A tipping point looms, beyond which recovery may be impossible. The enemy, he declared, is greed—manifest in efforts to sow doubt, deny science, distort truth, and prioritize profit over life. UNOC3 stands as a defiant response, a global coalition to reclaim the ocean for all.
The conference has spotlighted four urgent priorities to reverse this trajectory. First, transforming how we harvest the ocean’s bounty is non-negotiable. Sustainable fishing is the only path forward, demanding global cooperation, strict enforcement against IUU fishing, and expanded marine protected areas to rebuild stocks. Central to this is the “30 by 30” target—conserving and managing 30% of marine and coastal areas by 2030. ‘
Costa Rica, having protected 30.3% of its marine territory, leads by example, urging others to ensure future generations inherit oceans teeming with life. Second, the plague of plastic pollution requires bold action: phasing out single-use plastics, overhauling waste systems, and boosting recycling. A legally binding global treaty to end plastic pollution is in negotiation, with hopes for finalization in 2025, a critical step to stem the tide of debris.
Third, the fight against climate change must embrace the seas. For decades, the ocean has absorbed carbon emissions and excess heat, at great cost—warmer waters, acidification, and dying ecosystems. As the world prepares for COP30 in Brazil, nations must deliver ambitious climate action plans aligned with the 1.5°C target, covering all emissions and accelerating the shift to clean energy. Last year’s global temperature spike to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels was a warning, not a surrender.
Ocean-based solutions—protecting mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs—offer hope, but developing nations and SIDS need financial and technological support to weather rising seas and extreme storms. The ocean’s survival, and ours, depends on it.
Fourth, the Agreement on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), adopted in 2023, marks a historic leap to protect the high seas. With 134 signatures and 49 ratifications—18 added on June 9, 2025—entry into force is within reach, a record pace compared to the 12 years for UNCLOS.
UNOC3 has galvanized momentum, with calls for all nations to ratify swiftly. On seabed mining, caution is paramount. The Secretary-General endorsed the International Seabed Authority’s ongoing work, insisting the deep sea must not become a “Wild West” of exploitation. Robust regulations and accountability are essential to shield fragile ecosystems from greed-driven plunder.
UNOC3’s energy is palpable. Pledges are pouring in, fueled by island nations and Indigenous Peoples sharing expertise, young activists demanding accountability, scientists unveiling innovations, and businesses investing in the blue economy.
Preceding the conference, the One Ocean Science Congress (June 4-6) in Nice advanced research, the Blue Economy and Finance Forum (June 7-8) in Monaco explored sustainable financing, and the Ocean Rise & Resilience Coalition (June 7) in Nice rallied coastal leaders against sea level rise. World Oceans Day on June 8 amplified civil society’s voice. The Nice Ocean Action Plan, blending a political declaration and voluntary commitments, will crystallize these efforts, aiming to turn ambition into measurable progress.
Yet, challenges persist. Small states like Sri Lanka grapple with IUU fishing and practices like bottom trawling, lacking the capacity to curb external predators. The UN is pushing for stronger accountability mechanisms, though current tools remain limited. The fossil fuel industry’s role—driving emissions, acidification, and offshore risks—looms large, with the energy transition’s urgency better suited for COP30. Still, the Secretary-General emphasized that fossil fuels account for 85% of emissions, and renewables are now the cheapest energy source. The age of fossil fuels is ending; the question is whether the shift to renewables will come in time.
Leaving Nice, the mood is one of cautious optimism. UNOC3’s momentum—evident in BBNJ’s rapid progress and unprecedented attendance—signals a shift. Yet, the Secretary-General remains unsatisfied, yearning for faster action, especially on climate. The ocean’s health is inseparable from human health, climate stability, and global prosperity. It has given us so much; now, we must return the favor.
In Nice, a global coalition is rising, armed with commitments and hope, to save our blue heart—because our future depends on it.
Story produced in partnership with Africa 21 Association
