The third UN Ocean Conference ended with a shared call to expand marine protection and curb pollution, regulate high seas and unlock financing for vulnerable coastal and island nations. Co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, the Conference produced the Nice Ocean Action Plan, a two-part framework that includes a political declaration and over 800 voluntary commitments by governments, scientists, UN agencies, and civil society. One of the Conference’s main objectives was to accelerate progress on the High Seas Treaty, which needs sixty ratifications for it to enter into force. 19 countries ratified the accord at the Conference, bringing the total number to 50. The Conference also included finance pledges from the European Commission and New Zealand and a ‘coral bond’ introduced by the World Bank and Indonesia.
