The high-level 2025 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development (the 2025 UN Ocean Conference) 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 Conference, comprising an opening segment, ten plenary sessions, ten Ocean Action Panels and a closing segment, aims to support further and urgent action to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development and identify further ways and means to support the implementation of SDG 14. It will build on existing instruments to form successful partnerships towards the swift conclusion and effective implementation of ongoing processes that contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean.
If you wish to add an event, please contact us here.
This page is updated regularly as events are confirmed (last update: 21/05/2025).
Blue Zone side events
The role of DNA sequencing technologies in advancing ocean conservation and biodiversity goals
Location: Room 4, Blue Zone
Time: 17:30 – 18:45
Lead Organisations: Saudi Arabia National Center for Wildlife, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,
Organising partners: Ocean Census, Ocean X, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Global Coral R&D Accelerator Platform, Kyungpook National University South Korea
Marine-Coastal Ecosystems as Pillars of the Blue Economy: Conservation and Sustainable Development Strategies in Colombia and LAC
Location: Room 4
Time: 14:00 – 15:15
Lead Organisations: Colombia,
Organising partners: MAR Fund, Mesoamerica, Global Fund for Coral Reefs, International Coral Reef Initiative
Protecting Climate-Resilient Coral Reefs: A High-Level Commitment
Location: Room 1
Time: 15:45 – 17:00
Lead Organisations: Papua New Guinea; Wildlife Conservation Society
Organising partners:
- Member states: Government of Brazil Final approval in process, but agreement to be listed Government of Fiji Government of France Government of Madagascar Government of Panama Government of Papua New Guinea Government of The Philippines Final approval in process, but agreement to be listed Government of the United Republic of Tanzania Government of the United Republic of Tanzania – Zanzibar semi-autonomous region Final approval in process, but agreement to be listed WCS and its partners are also in discussion with the governments of Australia, Mozambique, Palau, Panama and The Bahamas. We will also work on inviting more governments to participate in the event and sign the commitment on stage
- Organizations: Bloomberg Philanthropies and Bloomberg Ocean Initiative. CNRS Coral Triangle Initiative Coral Reef Rescue Initiative Earth Commission, Future Earth and Global Commons Alliance Fonds Français pour l’environnement mondial, Agence Française De Développement Global Change Institute, (GCI), Wits University Global Environment Facility (GEF) Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR) International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) Ocean Breakthroughs (Ocean & Climate Platform) Office français de la biodiversité (OBF) Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University The Nature Conservancy (TNC) World Bank World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
Indonesia Coral Bond, the world’s first outcome bond for marine biodiversity
Location: Room 3
Time: 14:00 – 15:15
Lead Organisation: Indonesia
Organising partners: World Bank, Global Environment Facility, BNP Paribas, International Union for Conservation of Nature
SPGA Coral Restoration activities
Location: Room 5
Time: 14:00 – 15:15
Lead Organisation: Seychelles
Organising partners: Seychelles Blue Economy Department
The Status and Trends of Coral Reefs in the Pacific: 2024 – A Call to Action for Pacific Islands and People
Location: Room 1
Time: 08:45 – 10:00
Lead Organisation: International Coral Reef Initiative
Organising partners: Ambassador Peter Thomson, UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean; Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP); The National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS); Government of French Polynesia; Principality of Monaco; Bloomberg Philanthropies; Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN); The General Organisation for the Conservation of Coral Reefs and Sea Turtles in the Red Sea (SHAMS); UN Environment Programme (UNEP); Government of Sweden; Initiative Française pour les Recifs Coralliens (IFRECOR); Ministry of the Ecological Transition, Biodiversity, Forests, Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Government of France; Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR).
Scaling blue economy solutions through sustainable finance innovation: The Coral Bond
Location: Room 2
Time: 12:15 – 13:30
Lead Organisation: BNP Paribas
Other Coral Reef Events
ICRI is pleased to share further coral reef related events taking place at various locations around Nice during UNOC.
Preserving coral reefs: a challenge for the future With Pascale Joannot, President of the Scientific Council of the Fondation de la Mer
Location: Ruhl Beach, 1 Promenade des Anglais, 06000 Nice
Time: 19:00 – 20:00
Organised by: Sea Foundation’s Apéros de la Mer (Sea Aperitifs)
Women Actions for the Ocean
Location: Centre Universitaire Mediterranean – 65 Promenade des Analgais, Nice, France
Time: 10:45 – 12:00
Organised by: Paul Ricard Oceanographic Institute, La Saison Bleue, the Ocean & Climate Platform, Women for Sea
Learn more here
Presentation of the Protection Principle Task Force
Location: La Baleiene
Time: TBC
Organised by: CORDAP, GFCR, ICRS, ICRI
Presentation of the Protection Principle Task Force
Location: Villa Arson
Time: 18:30 – 20:30
Organised by: Lets Be Nice to the Ocean
Access: RSVP by June 1
Coral Reefs and People: Honouring Culture and Advancing Conservation Action for the Pacific Islands
Location: Hyatt Hotel
Time: 07:00 – 09:30
Organised by: Ocean House
Hosted by: International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR), Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), and The Pacific Community (SPC)
Due to capacity limitations, please register your interest to attend.
Coral in Focus: Collaboration & Innovation for Ocean Restoration
Location: Register to See Address
Time: 17:00 – 19:00
Organised by: Ocean House
Hosted by: Samsung, in collaboration with SeaTrees
An evening reception spotlighting the power of storytelling, innovation, and cross-sector collaboration with like-minded partners to drive ocean restoration. Featuring the premiere of the documentary film: Coral in Focus, the event invites diverse voices across the oceans community to connect, reflect, and catalyse action for our oceans.
Closing Nightcap: Coral Rave
Location: Register to See Address
Time: 21:00 – 00:30
Organised by: Ocean House
Hosted by: Sustainable Ocean Alliance
Join for a closing nightcap – Coral Rave! With special appearance from Madame Gandhi.
#ForCoral Pavilion Events
ICRI is pleased to announce the #ForCoral Pavilion at UNOC-3. This critical space for coral reefs will be located at La Baleine (The Whale), in the Palais des Expositions, in Nice (France) from 2 – 13 June 2025. The pavilion is supported by SHAMS, Bloomberg Ocean Initiative, the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), and the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR). It will bring together coral reef champions, policymakers, change-makers and Indigenous peoples, alongside investors, and conservation experts from around the world to spotlight bold action and amplify awareness of the vital role healthy coral reefs play in sustaining ocean and planetary health.
Download the Agenda (.pdf) here.
