MARE’s Contribution Enriches Global Conference to Save the Ocean in 2025
From 9 to 13 June 2025, Nice, France, will host high-level 2025 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development (the 2025 UN Ocean Conference), bringing together global leaders, scientists, and organisations to discuss urgent solutions for ocean preservation. Under the theme “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean”, the event aims to drive concrete commitments for marine sustainability.
Among the contributions gathered during the preparatory phase, we highlight the proposals submitted by MARE – Centre for Marine and Environmental Sciences during consultations conducted by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) from 18 to 29 November 2024.
MARE’s Proposals in Thematic Panels
MARE presented innovative proposals across three strategic panels addressing critical challenges related to ocean conservation:
• Ocean Action Panel 1: Conserving, sustainably managing, and restoring marine and coastal ecosystems, including deep-sea ecosystems.
MARE proposed to “Step up concerted actions to establish adaptive MPAs with flexible boundaries, guided by real-time data on species migrations, climate impacts, and ecosystem health. Use advanced tracking, AI, and satellite technology to ensure MPAs respond dynamically to shifting ecological conditions and conservation needs.”
• Ocean Action Panel 2: Increasing ocean-related scientific cooperation, knowledge, capacity building, marine technology, and education to strengthen the science-policy interface for ocean health.
MARE submitted a proposal to foster collaboration “on Ocean Literacy Research: Fund international, interdisciplinary studies to explore how Ocean Literacy initiatives drive behaviour change at individual, societal, and organisational levels. Investigate strategies and interventions that effectively shift norms, practices, and policies to support SDG 14 and sustainable ocean stewardship.”
• Ocean Action Panel 4: Preventing and significantly reducing marine pollution from all sources, particularly land-based activities.
MARE recommended to “Promoting cooperation to further implement remote and direct marine litter observations and engage stakeholders at the local and regional level to address sources and act on prevention. Build on sensors for micro and nanoplastics detection coupled with novel systems for removal from water for human consumption and reduce inputs from wastewater.”
Scientific Collaboration for Global Action
MARE’s contributions reflect the commitment of Portuguese science to the pursuit of effective and collaborative solutions for ocean challenges. These proposals are part of a collective effort, involving stakeholders from around the globe, to build the Nice Ocean Action Plan, which will be adopted during the conference.
Nice will serve as a convergence point for ideas and commitments that will shape the future of marine conservation. With the active participation of research centres such as MARE, the conference is set to become a milestone in ocean defence and the advancement of global sustainability.
The final results of the public consultation can be accessed HERE