From science to action: our engagements at the third UN Ocean Conference in Nice

As nations, organizations, and stakeholders gather in Nice, the conference aims to accelerate actions towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water) within the framework of the UN Ocean Decade (2021–2030). With the ocean under increasing threat and SDG 14 trailing behind in action and funding, this meeting is an opportunity to catalyze transformative commitments and decisive policy shifts.

“UNOC3 comes at a critical time and I hope that it will be a starting point for reimagining what a better, more sustainable and equitable future might be. Starting with the ocean, but stretching to the whole planet because they are all connected. It’s time for us to act and enable the transformations that we know we need,” says Centre researcher Laura Pereira, who will participate in the UNOC3.

At its core, UNOC3 seeks to deliver the Nice Ocean Action Plan, a collective effort comprised of a high-level political declaration and a series of voluntary commitments from governments, businesses, scientists, and civil society actors.

”UNOC3 isn’t just a meeting – it’s a stage for advocating the systemic transformations essential for the health of the ocean and the communities that depend on it. A lot has gone into preparing strong statements for action, reflecting months of mobilization within the ocean community,” says Laura Pereira.

Engagement at multiple levels

Stockholm Resilience Centre and collaborators will be engaged at multiple levels (see list below), contributing scientific insights and participating in high-level dialogues, side events, and knowledge-sharing forums. The Centre underscores the importance of integrating resilience thinking and systems-based approaches to address the complex challenges facing marine ecosystems.

The Centre’s participation at UNOC3 not only reflects our commitment to advancing transformative ocean governance and sustainability science, but also our long-time engagement in art/science projects.

Centre researcher Andrew Merrie will be in Nice 4 June to launch three original science-fiction films, produced in collaboration with TBA 21 and Inferstudio, and rooted in his acclaimed Radical Ocean Futures Project. Each film envisions a radically different, scientifically grounded future of the global ocean.

“We have produced these three sci-fi short films to provoke and challenge delegates and the wider network of ocean stakeholders to think bolder, wilder and more radically about the policy and investment decisions we take today and how they might shape the future ocean,” explains Andrew Merrie in a LinkedIn post.

In the lead-up to the conference, three special events are scheduled: the One Ocean Science Congress (June 4-6, 2025, in Nice), the Blue Economy and Finance Forum (June 7-8, 2025, in Monaco), and the Ocean Rise & Coastal Resilience Coalition (June 7, 2025, in Nice).

“While expectations are high, bold financial pledges alone won’t be enough. More decisive actions – like halting harmful fisheries subsidies or deep-sea mining – are essential for meaningful change,” says Centre researcher Robert Blasiak, who will participate in the Blue Economy and Finance Forum.

SRC contributions at UNOC3

Here is a shortlist of the SRC engagements at UNOC3:

• Ocean Futures Visioning: Laura Pereira has contributed to a visioning synthesis report with the Ocean & Climate Platform (OCP), imagining future pathways for ocean sustainability. This complements Andrew Merrie’s work with TBA21, producing ocean imaginaries and visual narratives to inspire new ways of thinking about the ocean’s future.'

• Coral Reefs Futures Event: In partnership with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and others, SRC is contributing to an event focused on climate resilience of coral reefs, with artistic components curated by collaborators like Ignacio Gianelli, visiting researcher to the Centre.
• Solving FCB - Solving the Sustainability Challenges at the Food-Climate-Biodiversity Nexus. This initiative, including Garry Peterson from SRC as a contributor, will host several sessions on addressing feedbacks, complexity, and blue governance challenges.
• Towards IPOS: Laura Pereira represents SRC on the advisory board of the Towards IPOS initiative, which will officially launch during UNOC3.

• The development programme SwedBio is co-organising and speaking at a series of events, including 'Rights-holder vs. Stakeholder', 'Small-Scale Fishers: At the Centre of Ocean Governance and Food Security', and 'Collaborative Currents' – a networking exchange for funders and small-scale fisher representatives.

• Researcher Robert Blasiak will participate in the Blue Economy and Finance Forum, June 7 and 8, held at Monaco's Forum Grimaldi, in partnership with the Principality of Monaco, as a special event of UNOC3.
• Researcher Emilie Lindkvist will participate in the One Ocean Science Congress, which is the scientific pillar of the UNOC3, and takes place June 3-6 in Quai Infernet, Port Lympia, Nice.

What milestones could be reached?

According to Robert Blasiak from SRC, the conference organizers hope for landmark headlines, such as:
• Major new commitments in blue finance.
• Ratification of the High Seas Treaty (BBNJ Agreement) by at least 60 countries.
• Policy breakthroughs led by France, such as a possible ban on bottom trawling in its marine protected areas.

Another potential milestone is the launch of Towards IPOS (Intergovernmental Panel for Ocean Sustainability), a science-policy interface initiative modeled after the IPCC for climate and IPBES for biodiversity, with active involvement from SRC associates.

“The IPOS has the potential to advance consensus on ocean status, guide policymakers in navigating future trade-offs, and inform the design of adaptive and anticipatory governance responses,” says Robert Blasiak, who was part of an international team of more than 30 scholars and other experts that proposed the establishment of the IPOS in a scientific article two years ago.