From June 9–13, France and Costa Rica will co-host the third United Nations Oceans Conference (UNOC) in Nice, a global summit launched in 2017 to advance concrete international action toward Sustainable Development Goal 14: conserving and sustainably using ocean and marine resources. This renowned international gathering not only presents the latest findings and concerns regarding ocean health and sustainability—from marine biodiversity to pollution and rising sea temperatures—but establishes agreements between nations that lay out the practices and actions required to meet this goal.
Since the last UNOC conference held in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2022, a series of agreements have been formalized to work toward this goal. These include two landmark agreements signed by UN countries following the 2023 One Ocean Summit in Brest: one pledging to designate 30% of the world’s oceans as protected areas, and the BBNJ agreement (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction), which focuses on conserving and sustainably using marine biodiversity in international waters. A third proposed agreement aims to address marine microplastics, which harm the health and reproduction of marine species and ultimately enter the human food chain through contaminated seafood.
Central to setting the scientific foundations and intentions for this year’s conference is the CNRS, the French National Center for Scientific Research. With over 1,000 researchers in 50 different laboratories around the world, the CNRS is a global leader in oceans and marine research as well as an important bridge between international institutions.
This year’s UNOC meeting is preceded by a series of events organized by the CNRS, including the SOS Ocean event. Held in Paris this March, the event presented two studies: an OECD assessing the economic importance of the oceans as comparable to the 5th largest economy in the world, and an International Platform for Ocean Sustainability’s (IPOS) report on deep-sea mining, highlighting the urgent risks posed by a legal vacuum as some countries and companies push ahead with extraction despite lacking clear international regulations. French President Emmanuel Macron also called for 30% of the ocean to be preserved through marine protected areas by 2030.
Just before the United Nations Oceans Conference, the CNRS also co-organized a three-day scientific presentation and discourse program known as the One Ocean Science congress. This event is crucial in establishing the basis for future agreements that may emerge from UNOC-3. This year’s priorities revolve around 5 key challenges: global warming, marine biodiversity, overfishing, plastic pollution, and maritime transport. With presentations, panels, and town halls attended by over 2,000 scientists, the congress ensures that decisions at UNOC-3 are grounded in the latest research and guided by the shared priorities of the global scientific community.
As UNOC-3 kicks off, the CNRS highlighted eight priorities for UNOC-3:
- Protect 30% of oceans by 2030: Secure 12–15% ocean protection through marine protected areas by UNOC-3.
- End plastic pollution: Cut marine waste and finalize a global treaty against plastic pollution.
- Ensure sustainable fishing: Combat illegal fishing and eliminate harmful subsidies through international agreements.
- Decarbonize maritime transport: Advance clean fuels, electrify ports, and reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
- Strengthen ocean governance: Build global coalitions for coastal resilience and launch a European Oceans Pact.
- Fund a sustainable blue economy: Invest in blue tourism, energy, biotech, ports, and regenerative marine industries.
- Enforce the High Seas Treaty (BBNJ): Reach 60 ratifications to bring the treaty into effect; 21 countries, including France, have ratified so far.
- Support ocean science: Increase funding to ensure policy is guided by the latest research.
Without rigorous research and shared findings, progress toward sustainable ocean practices is impossible. “We need to construct a sustainable relationship with the oceans and the only way to do that is to rally politicians, scientists, environmentalists, and economic stakeholders around the same demand for science and knowledge.” – Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, France’s ambassador for the poles and oceans.
Supporting the organizations conducting this work around the world is vital.
This crucial research and on-the-ground initiatives are fueled by non-profit organizations and foundations that are fully dedicated to ocean and marine protection and sustainable development. Friends of Fondation de France is proud to support key players in this field, including the CNRS Foundation, whose mission is to support and advance CNRS and collaborative research in France around the world.
Océan Polaire, founded by renowned French explorer Jean-Louis Etienne, is another strong force in advancing ocean discoveries, combining cutting-edge scientific research with public education to bring the realities of ocean change to audiences across the globe. The organization is leading the Polar Pod expedition—a three-year mission to study the uncharted Southern Ocean, one of the planet’s most important carbon sinks and a vital regulator of global climate.
Fondation de France also leads the Coast and Sea Program, a pioneering initiative that brings together researchers, communities, and civil society actors to co-develop innovative, sustainable solutions for managing and protecting coastal and marine ecosystems. Since 2011, nearly 200 projects have been supported under this program, helping French coastal regions adapt to climate change, restore biodiversity, and empower local communities through participatory research and shared stewardship.
French-American philanthropy is a powerful tool in ensuring that these vital initiatives and insights continue to shape policies, practices, and perspectives in order to create lasting change in ocean protection and sustainability. Your support helps fund the science, collaboration, and action we need to address rising sea levels, habitat loss, and marine pollution. As all eyes are on the future of ocean protection in Nice this week, join the movement by visiting our website to learn more about the organizations we support—and how you can be part of this vital movement.
