From 9 to 13 June 2025, representatives from around 130 countries gathered in Nice, France, for the UN Ocean Conference. The event focused on advancing international ocean conservation efforts and accelerating progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 14: Life Below Water.

UN Ocean Conference 2025: A Focus on Ocean Protection

The UN Ocean Conference is the world's leading international forum dedicated to ocean conservation. Its purpose is to coordinate political action for the protection of marine ecosystems and support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

At the heart of the conference is SDG 14, which aims to:

  • Protect oceans and seas

  • Conserve marine ecosystems

  • Ensure the sustainable use of marine resources

Two years after the adoption of the UN High Seas Treaty, discussions in Nice focused largely on turning existing commitments into concrete actions.

Major Challenges Facing the World's Oceans

Oceans around the globe are under increasing pressure. Among the most pressing challenges are:

  • Marine plastic pollution

  • Ocean warming and acidification

  • Overfishing

  • Deep-sea mining

Plastic pollution, in particular, has become one of the most significant environmental issues affecting marine ecosystems worldwide.

One of the conference's key objectives was to secure new political commitments and financial investments to strengthen international ocean protection efforts.

Germany's Priorities at the Conference

Germany also participated in the conference and highlighted three core priorities for marine conservation:

  • Reducing plastic pollution in the oceans

  • Expanding marine protected areas

  • Implementing precautionary restrictions on deep-sea mining

Germany has already designated approximately 46% of its marine areas as protected zones. Future efforts aim to improve the quality and effectiveness of these protected areas while strengthening biodiversity conservation.

Ocean Plastic Pollution: A Global Environmental Challenge

Plastic pollution remains one of the greatest threats to the world's oceans. Plastic enters marine environments through rivers, coastal areas, shipping activities, and inadequate waste management systems.

The consequences are far-reaching:

  • Marine animals mistake plastic for food

  • Microplastics enter the food chain

  • Marine ecosystems suffer long-term damage

Plastic breaks down extremely slowly. A single plastic bottle can take up to 450 years to fully degrade in the ocean. During this process, it fragments into microplastics that spread throughout marine and terrestrial ecosystems.

Microplastics: An Invisible Threat

Microplastics are now found in every ocean, in drinking water, and even in the air we breathe.

Through the food chain, these particles can also enter the human body. While research into the health impacts is still ongoing, growing concerns exist regarding potential long-term effects on organs, hormonal systems, and cellular functions.

International Plastics Treaty: Progress and Challenges

Preparations for a future international plastics treaty were another important topic at the conference, as negotiations continue toward a global agreement on plastic pollution.

However, environmental organizations such as Greenpeace have criticized current proposals, arguing that:

  • Companies are not yet being held sufficiently accountable

  • Measures to reduce plastic production remain inadequate

As a result, a central question remains unresolved: how can global plastic production be effectively reduced at the source?

Conclusion: A Key Moment for Global Ocean Protection

The 2025 UN Ocean Conference in Nice represented an important milestone for international ocean conservation. It highlighted that combating marine plastic pollution requires global cooperation, coordinated policies, and long-term commitment.

Achieving SDG 14 remains essential for protecting marine ecosystems, preserving biodiversity, and mitigating the impacts of both plastic pollution and climate change.

For organizations like everwave, the discussions reinforce a key lesson: protecting the oceans starts upstream. Preventing plastic from entering rivers and waterways remains one of the most effective ways to reduce marine pollution before it reaches the sea.