The high-level 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC), co-hosted by the governments of France and Costa Rica, convened on 9-13 June in Nice, France under the theme “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean.” This event, which takes place every three years, supports the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG14), “Life below water” and is the most important global event to advance ocean sustainability. With over 10,000 participants accredited, more than double from previous UNOCs, and 65 heads of state in attendance, this year's conference marked a record number of leaders uniting to discuss ocean sustainability. As the conference wrapped up with this momentum, the outcome document – Nice Ocean Action Plan – calls for accelerated action through a concise, consensus-driven political declaration backed by a comprehensive suite of voluntary commitments to conserve and sustainably use the ocean in support of SDG 14. The conference was anticipated by three special events: respectively One Ocean Science Congress, Coastal Resilience Summit and the Blue Economy and Finance Forum (BEFF). Notably, the BEFF, hosted by the Principality of Monaco and supported by the World Economic Forum in the Steering Committee, was attended by 1,800 participants representing 100 countries and over 1,000 organizations. 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference Outcome report J U N E 2 0 2 5 The World Economic Forum’s (Forum) objectives for the event were to advance the transition to a regenerative blue economy by creating opportunities for private-sector engagement, highlighting key ocean innovations and financing opportunities, and ensuring a broad communications and media outreach to amplify the conference’s impact. This report outlines key developments throughout UNOC, and contributions from the Forum and Friends of Ocean Action (FOA), and signals opportunities for private sector engagement and public-private collaboration in the ocean space going forward. All Hands on Deck for Ocean Action Achieving global ocean recovery requires an all hands on deck approach. From small to medium enterprises (SMEs) to innovators and large multinational corporations, business actors were positioned not just as supporters but as core partners in delivery, and were called to align operations, investments and disclosures with ocean sustainability targets. Private Sector Participation The Forum contributed to successfully bringing to this UN Ocean Conference the largest number of businesses across blue economy industries as part of its role as the official umbrella organization for private sector participation. This also marked unprecedented participation from CEOs and Chairpersons who prioritized Nice for their 2025 engagements. The regenerative blue economy is no longer a side conversation. Over 120 companies across sectors attended UNOC and BEFF, spanning energy, transportation and logistics, ports, shipping, as well as automotive, telecommunications, consumer goods, tourism, and financial services, among others. into a regenerative and sustainable blue economy – of which €1 billion hasalready been deployed or is investment-r eady in 2025.

UNOC Report June 2025