UN Ocean Conference delivers unified call to action and strong commitments
13 June 2025 - The 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference concluded today with more than 170 countries adopting an intergovernmentally agreed declaration committing to urgent action to conserve and sustainably use the ocean.
Global push to end plastic pollution gains ground in Nice
12 June 2025 - Behind closed doors, in a domed conference pavilion steps away from the historic port of Nice, more than 40 ministers gathered on Tuesday to tackle one of the planet’s fastest-growing environmental threats: plastic pollution.
‘No Ocean Declaration without small islands’: Delegates push for inclusion as UN summit nears end
12 June 2025 - With one day remaining before the conclusion of the Third UN Ocean Conference, delegates in Nice are preparing for the adoption of the summit’s eagerly anticipated political declaration. Small island developing States, facing the direct effects of climate change and marine resource decline, are pushing to ensure their perspectives are reflected in global ocean policy.
The battle to quiet the sea: Can the shipping industry turn down the volume?
10 June 2025 - The ocean has never been silent – waves crashing, seabirds calling, whales singing across vast distances. But in recent decades, a new kind of noise has taken hold: the relentless hum of ships. For many marine species, this growing wall of sound is more than a nuisance – it’s a threat to their survival.
Greed is driving oceans toward collapse
10 June 2025 - The ocean is under siege – and greed is to blame. UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday urged world leaders and grassroots groups to confront the powerful interests driving marine destruction, from illegal fishing and plastic pollution to the accelerating impacts of climate change.
Global action needed as progress stalls on disability-inclusive development goals
10 June 2025 - Nearly all the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators for persons with disabilities are , the UN deputy chief said on Tuesday, as people from around the world gathered for the largest annual meeting on disability-related issues.
COSP18: Spotlight on disability rights ahead of Second World Summit for Social Development
10 June 2025 - Persons with disabilities continue to face persistent barriers in daily life - limited access to education and employment, discrimination, and exclusion from decision-making. While progress has been made since the adoption of the (CRPD), the pace of change remains far too slow.
Guterres calls for an end to ocean ‘plunder’ as UN summit opens in France
9 June 2025 - With the Mediterranean glittering in the background, UN Secretary-General António Guterres opened the Third United Nations Ocean Conference on Monday, delivering a blunt indictment of humanity’s fractured relationship with the sea.
UN Ocean Conference opens with calls for urgent action to safeguard the health of the ocean
9 June 2025 – The 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference, co-hosted by the Governments of France and Costa Rica, opened today in Nice with strong calls to accelerate action and mobilize all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean.
Humans can't survive without a healthy Ocean: UN envoy
6 June 2025 - The Ocean is in deep crisis. Factors such as acidification, declining fish stocks, rising temperatures and widespread pollution are contributing to a catastrophic decline in biodiversity: over half of marine species are at risk of extinction this century.
The world’s oceans are dying. Can a UN summit in Nice turn the tide?
5 June 2025 - As coral reefs bleach, fish stocks collapse, and sea temperatures break records, world leaders are heading to the French Riviera — not for leisure, but for one of the most urgent diplomatic gatherings of the year.
Young innovators redefining sustainability—from the ground up
6 June 2025 - When Joseph Nguthiru got stuck in a boat due to invasive water hyacinth while on a class trip, he didn't just see an obstacle—he saw an opportunity. His company, HyaPak, now transforms this invasive species into biodegradable alternatives to single-use plastics.
3 things you should know about global efforts to save our ocean
5 June 2025 - All eyes will be on Nice, France, on 9-13 June 2025, when the international community will gather for the third UN Ocean Conference, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica. As climate change, plastic pollution, and overexploitation of marine resources pose serious threats, here are three things you should know about global efforts to turn the tide towards a healthy ocean.
ECOSOC events to look out for in June 2025
5 June 2025 - In June, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) will convene a series of key meetings focused on humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding.
Germany’s Annalena Baerbock elected President of the 80th General Assembly
2 June 2025 - Former German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock was elected President of the General Assembly’s 80th session on Monday. Her appointment comes as the regional group that includes Western Europe takes its turn at the helm of the world body.