The 2025 UN Oceans Conference - Reflections on Proposed Actions to Sustainably Use the Oceans

The United Nations Oceans Conference in Nice, France, was a five day event in June involving more than 60 heads of states and governments and over 15,000 participants. Its published outcome, the ‘Nice Ocean Action Plan’ comprises a political declaration (A/CONF.230/2025/L.1) and voluntary commitments which seek to address the grave state of ocean health. Calls to expand marine protection, curb pollution, regulate the high seas, and unlock financing for vulnerable coastal and island nations were advanced in this third summit, dubbed UNOC3, which followed previous conferences in New York (2017) and Lisbon (2022). Alongside the ‘blue zone’ of government delegations and the ‘green zone’ of civil society engagement were side-events in universities and other organisations.

The three speakers of this seminar – Professor Margaret Young, Professor Karen N Scott and Dr Ellycia Harrould-Kolieb – attended UNOC3 in various research capacities and will present reflections and critical perspectives.

This event is organised by the Institute for International Law and the Humanities (IILAH), Melbourne Climate Futures (MCF), the International Law Association (Australian branch) and the Oceans and International Environmental Law Interest Group (OIELIG) of the Australian and New Zealand Society of International Law (ANZSIL).

Date: Wednesday 20 August 2025

Time: 1PM-2PM (AEST)/3PM-4PM (NZST)