The forgotten planetary emergency
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for an Ocean SOS and urged governments to immediately increase climate and ocean action to “Save Our Seas”. Indeed, threats posed by rising sea levels, extreme weather events, overexploitation of the sea, pollution, and the deepening of the climate and biodiversity crises, have brought this vital planetary’s system on the edge of irreversible collapse.
When such a distress signal is heard at sea – an “SOS”-, all sailors must change their course to help those in danger. Today, the international community, renowned scientists, committed civil society, and coastal communities, are sounding an Ocean SOS in preparation of the decisive 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3 Nice, June 2025).
In order to amplify this worldwide SOS, thought leaders, policymakers, scientists, and advocates from around the globe convened in Paris. The participants collaborated to address the ocean’s most pressing challenges and shape bold strategies to sound the alarm and build momentum for ocean action.
Together, they carried the conclusions of this Paris meeting to the global stage, serving as catalysts for bold, transformative commitments at UNOC3.
Paris was our turning point
In March 2025, Oceano Azul Foundation co-hosted the SOS Ocean summit in Paris with Bloomberg Philanthropies, where a group of around 100 international thought leaders and ocean champions mostly from civil society gathered at the feet of the Eiffel Tower – lit up in blue for the occasion, and for the first time ever – to send an “Ocean SOS” ahead of the 3rd UN Ocean Conference.
Personalities such as HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, former Vice-President of the United States Al Gore, President of the European Council António Costa, Dr. Sylvia Earle, Professor Johan Rockström and Secretary General of the International Seabed Authority Letícia Carvalho, participated to discuss the pressing need for ocean action.
A Manifesto prepared for the occasion was launched, calling on world leaders to respond to this SOS, change course, and rise to the ocean challenge.
This ambitious Manifesto, titled “To Those Who Will Decide and Act for the Ocean”, calls on governments to “lead by example”. The call to action emphasises five major ocean themes, including the establishment of a robust international governance framework, tackling pollution, protecting marine ecosystems, ensuring a sustainable blue economy, and increasing ocean knowledge.
Key asks from civil society and endorsing organisations include:
• An immediate global moratorium on deep-sea mining for at least 10 to 15 years, or until sufficient knowledge is available to make informed decisions.
• 60 nations to ratify the UN High Seas Treaty (“Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction”) by June 9, 2025, when UNOC3 begins, in order for the Treaty to enter into force.
• Public support for the adoption of a Global Plastics Treaty, to be reached during the negotiation session in Geneva starting August 5, 2025.
• Implementation of the decarbonisation of maritime transport, with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 and becoming completely carbon-neutral by 2050.
• A collective effort to create a roadmap for countries to contribute to protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030, including at least 10% under strict protection.
• Mobilisation of financial actors to launch large-scale investment mechanisms to finance projects in the blue economy.
• Curb harmful fishery subsidies, guarantee preferential access for small-scale fisheries in territorial seas, and ban destructive activities such as bottom trawling by 2030.
• The launch, at UNOC3, of a “Blue Future Alliance“, bringing together all States that wish to be guardians and champions of a new agenda for the ocean.
• The creation of a science-policy platform for ocean sustainability.
• The establishment of a work programme common to the Rio Conventions, identifying the best ocean-based solutions for a coherent action in favour of climate and biodiversity.
70 days before France and Costa Rica co-host the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, backed this call for a transformative ocean plan for 2025-2030 by unveiling for the first time France’s 8 priorities for UNOC, which largely echo the Manifesto.
This Manifesto, supported by personalities such as Harrison Ford, Dr. Sylvia Earle, and Lewis Pugh, alongside more than 50 other ocean champions, describes UNOC3 as the biggest and most important ocean gathering of the international community to date.
“We must not merely speak or settle for a consensual political declaration negotiated before the Conference. We must act. Our ambition needs to be practical and pragmatic. We must demand for unprecedented actionable results for UNOC 3. Let us demand a transformative agenda for 2025-2030, which may prioritise solutions for the ocean problems.”
– José Soares dos Santos, Chairman Oceano Azul Foundation.
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