Advocacy Brief
United Nations Ocean Conferences: Acting After the Announcements
The United Nations Ocean Conferences bring together states, scientists, businesses, and civil society around Sustainable Development Goal 14 ("Life Below Water"). Following Nice in 2025, the next one will take place in June 2028 in Busan, South Korea, co-organised with Chile.
01 · Understanding the Issue
What is at stake?
The pressures facing the ocean cannot be addressed in isolation: pollution, biodiversity loss, climate, financing, and resource management are closely linked.
A conference is not a treaty: it does not create legal obligations. It is a political accelerator that mobilises governments, businesses, and civil society around voluntary commitments and concrete cooperation.
02 · Tracking progress
Where do things stand?
A 1st conference was held in New York in 2017, a 2nd in Lisbon in 2022, and then the 3rd in Nice from June 9 to 13, 2025. Nice resulted in a political declaration and voluntary commitments gathered in the "Nice Ocean Action Plan." The 4th conference is scheduled for June 2028 in South Korea, with Chile, and the city of Busan has been chosen to host it.
- 2017New York: Launch of the cycleCompleted
- 2022Lisbon: 2nd conferenceCompleted
- June 9 to 13, 2025Nice: Ocean Action PlanCompleted
- June 2028Busan, South Korea, with ChileAnnounced
03 · Our Position
What we advocate for
Position of The SeaCleaners Swiss
International commitments are useful when they become funded, monitored, and evaluated programmes.
We advocate for transparency on results, access to data, and solutions built with local communities and authorities.
Our principles
- Monitor a small number of indicators: funding, local deployments, scientific cooperation.
- Publish results, even when they fall below expectations.
- Build with local stakeholders rather than in their place.
04 · In the Field
Our tangible contribution
Our 3-year expeditions show how a commitment in principle becomes a measurable action: collection, sorting, local recovery, awareness, and scientific cooperation, with figures published and updated every quarter.
These results, and the difficulties we encounter, can inform international dialogue with concrete examples.
Kota Kinabalu, MalaysiaIn partnership with Marine Research Foundation and Kota Kinabalu City Hall: bay cleanup operations active since April 2025, quarterly published data, and local recycling networks.Follow the expedition ›
Ambon, IndonesiaWith LPMK and the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries: a public initiative monitored quarterly at the national level.View project stages ›Learn More
Frequently Asked Questions and Sources
Can an ocean conference impose rules?
No. It produces declarations and voluntary commitments. Legal obligations come from treaties, such as the High Seas Treaty or the future plastic treaty.
Sources
- United Nations: United Nations Ocean Conference, Nice 2025 ↗
- United Nations General Assembly: Resolution 80/108 designating Korea and Chile for 2028 ↗
Last updated: 29.10.2026. This brief is verified every month and after every official announcement.
