Global actors unite in Nice for urgent ocean action

World Meteorological Organization secretary general Celeste Saulo described accelerating ocean warming, acidification and sea-level rise as an existential challenge. "Ecosystems, populations, trade and supply chains are all being disrupted – resulting in billions of dollars in blue economy losses," she said. She announced WMO’s new initiative to deploy 10,000 observation ships to enhance early warning systems.

Researcher at the Second Institute of Oceanography under China’s Ministry of Natural Resources, Li Jiabiao, stressed that ocean science must break through cognitive and political boundaries. He cited the ocean’s vastness and complexity, calling for regular assessments and capacity-building partnerships with Global South nations.

Mercator Ocean International director-general Pierre Bahurel spoke of the increasing demand for impartial, science-based forecasting tools. "Global mobilisation is essential to ensure no one is left behind," he said, identifying digitalisation as a transformative force in ocean science access.

OceanX co-chief executive officer and chief science officer Vincent Pieribone called for broader participation in ocean research and learning. "We need systems that ensure everyone, especially those on the front lines, can generate, use and benefit from ocean science," he said.

Outside of the conference rooms, the United Kingdom reinforced its legislative commitment to the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction or BBNJ Agreement for short.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs confirmed a bill to enable treaty ratification would be introduced before the end of 2025. The UK’s marine minister Emma Hardy stated, "Our oceans are dying. Without urgent action, they will be irreversibly destroyed."

The BBNJ Agreement, also referred to as the High Seas Treaty, is intended to facilitate the creation of marine protected areas in international waters – which account for nearly two-thirds of the ocean. The treaty underpins the 30 by 30 commitment to protect 30% of marine environments by 2030.

The UK also aligned with over 90 countries in supporting a global treaty on plastic pollution, ahead of resumed negotiations in Geneva this August. National measures, including a proposed ban on bottom trawling in sensitive marine habitats, were noted as complementary domestic actions.

The scale of the challenge remains daunting. Ocean heat records continue to be broken, and plastic contamination persists across all depths. However, the Nice Ocean Action Plan, incorporating both political pledges and voluntary commitments, is designed to form a unifying roadmap.

Its credibility, however, will rest on funding and implementation. Panellists repeatedly referenced the need for robust financial backing. Ms Saulo described this as non-negotiable, "This is a must. The ocean is paying a heavy price. It has a long memory – and it will not forget; it will not forgive."

The conference, which attracted representatives from 55 heads of state and government, 450 side events and thousands of participants, will conclude with the formal adoption of the Nice Ocean Action Plan. Whether this turns rhetorical momentum into operational commitment will determine the legacy of this latest UN gathering.

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