On June 9 – 13, 2025, a member delegation from Parliamentarians for Global Action participated in the Third United Nations Ocean Conference, also known as UNOC3, in Nice, France. The Conference brought together relevant stakeholders to assess challenges and opportunities, accelerate action, and mobilize all actors to support the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: to conserve and sustainably use the ocean.
Hon. Oliver Bamenju Agho, MP (Cameroon), PGA Board member and Oceans Campaign co-Convenor, along with Dep. Arlindo Quaresma dos Santos (São Tomé and Príncipe) and Dep. Bilaine de Ceita (São Tomé and Príncipe), members of Parliament from the Gulf of Guinea, raised awareness about the protection of 30 percent of the ocean by 2030 through marine protected areas, or MPAs, in both national waters and the high seas through the ratification and implementation of the High Seas Treaty.
The high-level Conference, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, offered opportunities for multi-stakeholder engagement and dialogue through a robust program of plenary sessions, ocean action panels, and side events around the city of Nice.
In his remarks to Conference attendees, Hon. Agho underscored the need for a human rights-based approach to protecting the oceans and highlighted the role of parliamentarians in the implementation of SDG 14. PGA also submitted a written statement to the Conference emphasizing our commitments to the establishment and expansion of MPAs, and to ensuring the prompt entry into force and effective implementation of the High Seas Treaty.
Gulf of Guinea dialogue on marine protected areas
Parliamentarians for Global Action and our partner, Fauna & Flora, convened a breakfast conversation with parliamentarians, government officials, and key stakeholders representing Cameroon, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, and São Tomé and Príncipe to exchange experiences on the creation and management of MPAs in the Gulf of Guinea. We discussed the ocean’s vital role in sustaining food systems, livelihoods, climate resilience, and human rights and the importance of participatory co-management of MPAs, integrating scientific and traditional knowledge and fostering local, regional, and global cooperation.
This dialogue coincided with a significant national milestone for São Tomé and Príncipe: An announcement by Minister Nilda da Mata representing the Ministry of the Environment, Youth and Sustainable Development, designating the country’s first network of eight marine protected areas — a historic step towards achieving the target to protect 30 percent of the ocean by 2030, also known as 30 by 30. We at Parliamentarians for Global Action will continue to encourage these efforts by supporting parliamentarians in the country to advance marine protection through the effective implementation and co-management of these MPAs.
Waves of change on the path to 2030
In an inspiring display of effective multilateralism, countries at UNOC3 shared progress made towards the implementation of SDG14 to protect our oceans. Representatives who were present renewed their country’s commitments towards implementation and agreed on a more robust framework of unified ocean stewardship to protect this common heritage for all people of present and future generations:
- Several countries announced significant expansions and new designations of marine protected areas within their national waters, with French Polynesia announcing what will be the world’s largest MPA network. Once implemented, these MPAs will bring ocean protection coverage from about 8 percent to about 10 percent.
- There was strong momentum for approval of the High Seas Treaty with 19 countries ratifying it during the Conference and an additional dozen pledging to do so soon. Achieving 50 ratifications (and the European Union) by the end of the Conference and 138 signatures, the Treaty is now firmly on track to enter into force by 2026 — paving the way for the creation of high seas marine protected areas.
- As SDG14 remains the most underfunded of all the Sustainable Development Goals, the Conference underscored the pressing need to transform commitments into effective ocean action through sustained leadership and increased funding.
- The Conference concluded with the Nice Ocean Action Plan which combines a set of voluntary commitments and a political declaration titled “Our ocean, our future,” laying the groundwork for continued progress at the 30th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30), taking place in November 2025 in Belém, Brazil.
Call to action for parliamentarians
Parliamentarians have a crucial role in advancing the protection of the ocean and implementation of SDG14. Parliamentarians for Global Action calls on Members of Parliament to:
- Advance global marine biodiversity goals, ensuring that progress toward 30 by 30 is collectively met alongside the effective implementation of the High Seas Treaty.
- Engage with fellow parliamentarians on the widespread value of MPAs to protect marine biodiversity and support climate resilience, food security, and long-term sustainability.
- Ensure that MPAs are co-managed through processes that are community-led and participatory and that involve sustainable financing mechanisms, multi-stakeholder cooperation, recognition of traditional knowledge and the role of women, and the protection of livelihoods.
- Visit and share PGA's resources to learn more about SDG14, Marine Protected Areas, and the High Seas Treaty:
