Blue Talks

France and Costa Rica will co-organize the 3^rd UNOC from 9 to 14 June 2025 in Nice (Mediterranean Sea). To prepare this conference dedicated to the preservation of Oceans, several “Blue Talks” will be organized in all partnering countries, in order to identify their priorities, challenges, and reach a consensus in Nice in 18 months.

That’s why we wish to start the discussions now, on the basis of our partners’ expectations, in New Zealand and in the Pacific, and around the 3 pillars that are structuring our work leading towards Nice:

1. Champion the success of existing multilateral / diplomatic ocean-related processes: the ongoing negotiations on the fight against plastic pollution, fisheries regulation, marine biodiversity conservation in waters beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) are all examples of processes that could come to fruition by 2025. The exploitation of the deep seabed also needs to be addressed. The Conference will occur halfway through the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal framework, presenting an opportunity to highlight its marine aspects.
2. Mobilize and increase funding, including through the development of new financial mechanisms relevant to achieve SDG 14 and support a sustainable blue economy. Since SDG 14 is considered to be the least funded of all SDG’s, the second focus of the Conference will be the financing of ocean protection through mobilization of public and private sources, as well as by identifying innovative financial mechanisms.
3. Strengthen and better share knowledge related to ocean sciences for science-based, comprehensive decision-making. In the midst of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, an emphasis will be put on the role of ocean sciences to achieve SDG 14, and how we can collectively strengthen research, analysis and the monitoring of ocean health.