UN Ocean Conference 2025 opens amid warnings of ‘planetary emergency’

The Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) opened in Nice on June 9, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, bringing together heads of state, policymakers, scientists, and civil society leaders.

With a strong focus on Sustainable Development Goal 14—conserving and sustainably using ocean resources—the conference arrives at a time when scientists warn that the world's oceans have entered a state of planetary crisis.

Inaugurating the conference, UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the state of the oceans as a “planetary emergency”, citing increasing threats from illegal fishing, overexploitation, marine pollution, rising sea temperatures, and acidification.

He urged countries to ratify the High Seas Treaty and commit to ambitious ocean protection goals.

India, with its 7,500-kilometre coastline and a massive population dependent on marine resources, is seen as a key player in the global ocean protection agenda.

India’s engagement at the conference spans issues such as overfishing, plastic pollution, and the protection of coastal livelihoods, with a push to increase its share in the blue economy while ensuring sustainability.

The summit’s theme, “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean”, comes as a sharp scientific warning hits global headlines—ocean acidification has now crossed the planetary boundary, a limit beyond which the risk of irreversible environmental change increases significantly.

According to a study cited by The Guardian and The Fish Site, about 40% of the ocean's surface waters and 60% of subsurface layers up to 200 meters deep have become too acidic for many species to survive.

Ocean acidification, driven by carbon dioxide absorption, is already threatening species such as corals, shellfish, and plankton, which form the base of the marine food chain.

The crossing of this threshold means ecosystems could face widespread disruption. Scientists now consider the ocean acidification boundary as one of the nine planetary boundaries that have been breached, alongside others such as climate change and biodiversity loss.

India’s role in global ocean governance is particularly crucial, given the heavy reliance of its coastal communities on fisheries and marine ecosystems.

At the conference, Indian delegates are expected to contribute to discussions on equitable ocean governance, science-driven conservation, and inclusive blue economy strategies.

As reported by The Indian Express, the broader message of the conference is clear: Without urgent collective action, the degradation of oceans will continue to accelerate, threatening marine biodiversity, coastal economies, and the planet’s overall ecological balance.