The International Science Council (ISC) is actively contributing to the 2025 UN Ocean Conference (UNOC), co-chaired by France and Costa Rica, and taking place in Nice from 9 to 13 June 2025. Through its ocean expert group and extensive scientific networks, the ISC is ensuring that evidence-based solutions and interdisciplinary insights shape the conference outcomes.
About the Ocean Conference
The third United Nations Ocean Conference 2025 (UNOC 2025 or UNOC-3) will take place in Nice, France, from 9 to 13 June 2025, and will be co-chaired by France and Costa Rica.
This high-level conference is dedicated to advancing Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14): Life Below Water. It will bring together representatives from governments, science, civil society, and the private sector to address critical challenges such as climate impacts on oceans, marine biodiversity loss, plastic pollution, and sustainable management of marine resources.
A major outcome of the conference will be the adoption of a Political Declaration, which will outline collective commitments and pathways for strengthening global efforts on ocean health and sustainability. The conference will also be framed by 10 Ocean Action Panels, covering themes such as:
- Fostering sustainable fisheries management, including supporting small-scale fishers;
- Conserving, sustainably managing, and restoring marine and coastal ecosystems including deep sea ecosystems;
- Promoting and supporting all forms of cooperation, especially at the regional and subregional level;
- Preventing and significantly reducing marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities;
- Leveraging ocean, climate, and biodiversity interlinkages;
- Advancing sustainable ocean-based economies, sustainable maritime transport, and coastal community resilience leaving no one behind;
- Promoting the role of sustainable food from the ocean for poverty eradication and food security;
- Increasing ocean-related scientific cooperation, knowledge, capacity building, marine technology, and education to strengthen the science-policy interface for ocean health;
- Enhancing the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); and
- Mobilizing finance for ocean actions in the support of SDG 14.
How the International Science Council will contribute
The International Science Council (ISC) will play an active role in UNOC 2025 by contributing its expertise and leveraging its networks to ensure that science underpins the conference’s discussions and outcomes.
The ISC is preparing contributions to the Political Declaration, emphasizing the critical role of science in understanding ocean challenges and developing effective, evidence-based solutions. The inputs aim to ensure that science is recognized as essential for decision-making, international cooperation, and sustainable development.
The ISC is also providing advice to Member States on the Ocean Action Panels that will shape the thematic discussions of the conference. These contributions focus on integrating scientific insights into actionable recommendations across the 10 thematic areas, ensuring that the outcomes are both ambitious and achievable.
Such inputs build on the Council’s existing work on oceans:
- Our participation in past UNOCs: The ISC has actively contributed to previous UN Ocean Conferences (2017 and 2022), ensuring that scientific evidence supports international discussions and agreements.
- Our strong network of ocean science: Through its Affiliated Bodies and members, such as the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR), the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP), Future Earth’s ocean initiatives, among others, the ISC connects a broad range of scientific expertise in areas like ocean circulation, observation, climate impacts, and marine ecosystems.
- Our role in the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Development: The ISC is a partner in the Decade (2021–2030), focusing on advancing actionable and inclusive ocean science that addresses societal needs.
- Global ocean expert group: The ISC has convened a multidisciplinary expert group on ocean science to inform international dialogues with integrated, policy-relevant insights and to shape its inputs for the One Ocean Science Congress and UNOC-3.
- Our Small Island Developing States (SIDS) expertise: The ISC SIDS Liaison Committee contributes expertise on the unique challenges faced by SIDS, such as vulnerability to sea-level rise and dependence on marine resources, ensuring these perspectives are included in global discussions.
The ISC ocean expert group
The ISC has convened a multidisciplinary Ocean expert group to guide its contributions to the 2025 UNOC. Established in September 2024, the group has already begun its work, ensuring that the latest scientific insights inform the preparatory process and the conference itself. Comprising experts from the ISC’s membership, affiliated ocean-related bodies, and broader scientific networks, the group represents diverse disciplines across the natural and social sciences and includes members from various regions.
The expert group’s primary focus is to unify and amplify the voice of the global ocean science community in the conference’s discussions and outcomes. It is tasked with preparing evidence-based contributions to support a robust and actionable Political Declaration while shaping advice to Member States. The group also plays an active role in fostering scientific engagement in the conference programme, particularly prior to UNOC-3 a the One Ocean Science Congress.
Planned activities
Coming soon…
Contacts
For the UN Ocean Conference 2025:
For the One Ocean Science Congress:
Photo by James Peacock on Unsplash
