By: Hadeer Elhadary:
As the Third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) approaches its conclusion in Nice, France, global delegates are preparing to endorse a widely anticipated political declaration. Small Island Developing States (SIDS), facing the brunt of climate change and marine resource decline, are leading calls to ensure their priorities shape global ocean policy.
With the summit scheduled to end on Friday, urgency hangs in the air.
Li Junhua, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, told UN News on Thursday that the past four days have demonstrated a rare unity among nations around Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14) — the protection of life below water.
“This is the true testament to the impact of this Conference on the future of our ocean,” he said.
Draft outcome reflects rising urgency
Held since Monday on the sun-soaked shores of the Côte d’Azur, UNOC3 is expected to close with a broad consensus on a political declaration, alongside voluntary national commitments known collectively as the Nice Ocean Action Plan.
The political text, titled “Our Ocean, Our Future: United for Urgent Action”, is the result of four rounds of intense intergovernmental negotiations at UN Headquarters since January, combined with informal consultations involving key delegations and civil society actors.
The draft declaration reflects a notable shift in tone, placing increased urgency on immediate and transformative action to protect the ocean — driven by intensifying concerns over climate threats, biodiversity loss, and the overexploitation of marine ecosystems.
The declaration also outlines measures to promote sustainable ocean-based economies while accelerating implementation efforts. SDG 14 remains one of the least funded global goals, and the draft emphasizes the need for accessible, significant financing and the fulfillment of existing commitments under international law.
Additionally, the document stresses the ocean’s connection to broader environmental concerns, urging nations to fully implement the Convention on Biological Diversity. It also reaffirms support for developing a binding international treaty on plastic pollution, with a comprehensive life-cycle approach to plastics management.
Final negotiations are ongoing, and the world awaits confirmation that governments can move from decades of pledges to concrete protections for the marine environment.
Small island voices steer the agenda
Amid the broad stakeholder landscape, small island nations have taken on a pivotal role. As the most vulnerable to rising seas and ecological degradation, their experiences and leadership are helping craft inclusive, responsive ocean governance.
Safiya Sawney, Special Envoy and Ambassador for Climate from Grenada, told UN News she welcomed the inclusion of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for Small Island Developing States (ABAS) in the draft declaration — a milestone adopted during the Fourth International Conference on SIDS in May 2024.
Sawney emphasized that referencing ABAS within the UNOC3 declaration demonstrates unity among island nations. Despite significant challenges, she said SIDS are determined to uphold their ABAS obligations and lead by example in translating commitments into real action.
“A big part of our heritage, of our culture, of our economy is derived from the ocean,” she said. “So for us, you cannot have an ocean declaration without SIDS.”
No compromise on nature
Discussing negotiations on the draft declaration, Sawney said Grenada and other members of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) drew on their climate negotiation experience to influence the ocean dialogue.
“Part of healthy multilateralism is knowing that you have to compromise,” she acknowledged. “But the one thing that we cannot compromise with, however, is nature.”
She added that SIDS are calling on larger countries to step up—not just with pledges or funding—but with meaningful, on-the-ground action.
“To succeed in this ocean agenda,” she stated, “some countries must do more than others.”
Caribbean bloc demonstrates unity
SIDS are leveraging their collective identity as “large ocean nations” to shape the global marine agenda at UNOC3. Caribbean governments, in particular, have demonstrated regional solidarity throughout the event.
On the opening day of the summit, the Actioning Blue: Caribbean 30×30 Vision for the Ocean was officially launched. The plan seeks to advance Caribbean political advocacy aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and SDG 14.
“Coming into UNOC3, we had 12 Caribbean governments endorse the vision, including independent states and territories,” said Sawney. “Since then, we’ve received another signature and interest from three more governments.”
Shifting away from dependence
Sawney also highlighted the Caribbean’s efforts to reduce reliance on external expertise and build internal capacity for ocean governance.
Recalling the 2008 Caribbean Challenge Initiative, which led to protection for nearly 49,000 km² of marine areas, she said the new vision reinforces the region’s commitment to marine conservation.
“We’re trying to change the tide,” she said. “We want donors to know we’re serious about building and owning our capacity.”
Viewing UNOC3 as a launchpad rather than a conclusion, she said, “The real work begins after all of this is over.”