With the UN Ocean Conference set to take place next month in Nice, France, world leaders are being called upon to seize a rare and urgent opportunity to accelerate progress on ocean conservation. The conference, which will bring together thousands of delegates including government officials, scientists, industry leaders, campaigners, and Indigenous representatives, is aimed at pushing forward efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 14 — the United Nations’ target to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources by 2030.
The ocean plays a fundamental role in sustaining life on Earth, providing food, regulating the climate and water cycles, and supporting biodiversity. It also underpins the livelihoods of millions of people globally. Yet, according to widespread scientific assessments and reporting, including from Nature, progress on ocean health is moving in the wrong direction. Despite a series of high-profile international agreements and pledges over the past few years, compliance and implementation remain weak. As Nature has highlighted, many of these treaties suffer from lack of enforcement, and new ones — such as a global plastics treaty currently under negotiation — are at risk of being diluted by the influence of powerful oil and gas lobbies.
One of the key challenges is that while numerous treaties exist, they are often fragmented and poorly coordinated. The conference in Nice offers a chance to change that. Without the immediate pressure of negotiating legal text, delegates will be in a rare position to step back, evaluate their collective progress, and seek alignment on key issues. Such moments of reflection are infrequent and must be used to revive political will and strengthen commitments.
Among the issues contributing to the slow pace of progress are overfishing, habitat degradation, and climate change. Fifty years ago, 90% of global fish stocks were considered biologically sustainable. By 2021, that figure had dropped to just 62%, according to the UN’s own data. Meanwhile, the goal of conserving 30% of the planet’s land and ocean by 2030 remains far out of reach, with existing protected areas needing to quadruple in size within the next few years. Climate pressures are also intensifying, as illustrated by a recent global coral bleaching event — only the fourth on record, but the second in less than a decade — announced by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in April 2024.
Financial shortfalls further hamper progress. Between 2014 and 2024, approximately US$160 billion was pledged for ocean-related efforts by governments and industry, yet only $23.8 billion is recorded as delivered. New funding commitments have dwindled in recent years, raising concerns that conservation targets will be missed without renewed investment.
Attention is also turning to the implementation of specific agreements. The High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, formed by 18 countries, has shown little recent activity, with its last public update posted in December. The High Seas Treaty — adopted in 2023 to protect marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction — has also stalled. Of the 115 countries that signed it, only 21 have ratified it so far. At least 60 ratifications are required for the treaty to enter into force.
Other stalled agreements include the WTO’s Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, which seeks to ban support for illegal and unsustainable fishing practices. Adopted in 2022, it remains inactive until at least 14 more countries ratify it. Meanwhile, negotiations on the global plastics treaty remain contentious. Over 100 nations support a binding deal to reduce plastic production, in line with scientific evidence that plastics are suffocating marine ecosystems. However, opposition from oil and gas producers and the plastics industry continues to block consensus, with the next round of talks scheduled for August in Geneva.
As Nature notes, the upcoming conference in Nice is a rare chance for key players to gather outside the high-pressure environment of treaty negotiations. With the world falling behind on nearly every measure of ocean health, the stakes could not be higher. Leaders must now decide whether to let the tide of inaction continue or to take concrete steps that will give SDG14 a real chance of success.
