Introducing the ISC expert group on oceans: Providing science-based inputs for the UN Ocean Conference

The 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC 2025 or UNOC-3) will be held in Nice, France, from 9 – 13 June 2025, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica. The overarching theme of the Conference is “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean”. The event will include an opening segment, ten plenary sessions, ten Ocean Action Panels, and a closing segment. Its aim is to accelerate urgent action to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources, and to identify ways to support the implementation of SDG 14.

In preparation for the conference, France and Costa Rica will host the One Ocean Science Congress (OOSC), organized by CNRS and IFREMER. The congress will gather 2,000 experts to provide participants and the broader public with scientific insights into the ocean’s health, dynamics, conservation, sustainable use, and the critical services it provides to humanity.

The ISC at UNOC

As co-lead of the Scientific and Technological Community Major Group, the ISC plays a key advisory role in supporting the global scientific community at the UN Ocean Conference. Our community includes leading international research networks working on various aspects of ocean science across regions and disciplines.

The ISC will actively participate in UNOC 2025 and its preparatory processes, contributing expertise and leveraging its networks to ensure that science informs the conference’s discussions and outcomes. To facilitate this, the ISC is convening an expert group made up of members from our community, affiliated ocean-related bodies, and broader scientific networks. This group spans multiple disciplines across the natural and social sciences and represents diverse regions.

The expert group’s primary role is to unify and amplify the voice of the global ocean science community in the conference’s discussions and outcomes. It will prepare evidence-based contributions to ensure the conference results are robust and actionable while providing advice to Member States. The group will also actively foster scientific engagement in the conference programme, particularly at the One Ocean Science Congress ahead of UNOC-3.

The expert group