Locations
For a global blue economy
UNDP's Ocean Promise
The ocean sustains all life on Earth.
Covering over 70% of the Earth's surface, the ocean is at a critical tipping point. It faces mounting threats from climate change, pollution—especially plastic waste—and unsustainable exploitation of marine resources.
Marine ecosystems are deteriorating, fish stocks are being depleted, and sea levels are rising, disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities such as Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Despite its importance, SDG 14—“Life Below Water”—remains the least funded of all Sustainable Development Goals, highlighting a significant gap between ambition and action.
The 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica in Nice, aims to reverse this trajectory by accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean. Building on the momentum of previous conferences, this high-level gathering will bring together governments, civil society, Indigenous Peoples, scientists, the private sector, and financial institutions to forge inclusive, science-based, and innovative solutions. From scaling up ocean finance and sustainable blue economies to strengthening governance and international cooperation, the Conference will serve as a pivotal moment to align global efforts, close the ocean finance gap, and ensure a resilient, thriving ocean for future generations.
About UNDP’s Ocean Promise
Vision: A global blue economy that sustainably utilizes ocean resources for empowered economic development, job and livelihood creation, food security, poverty reduction and gender mainstreaming, and overall equality.
Goal: By 2030, 100 coastal countries (including all Small Island Developing States) realize the maximum potential of their blue economies through sustainable, low emission and climate resilient ocean use that grows economies, creates jobs and livelihoods, improves food security, and reduces poverty, inequity and gender inequality.
Under the UNDP Nature Pledge, the Ocean Promise is UNDP’s commitment to support 100 coastal countries—including all Small Island Developing States (SIDS)—to realize the full potential of sustainable, climate-resilient, and inclusive ocean economies by 2030.
The Ocean Promise, launched in 2022, advances sustainable and equitable ocean livelihoods through strong governance, private investment, and local capacity building. Aiming to manage over 16 million km² of ocean, empower 1,000+ coastal communities, and mobilize $1B in ocean finance, it supports the UNDP Nature Pledge and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. This people-centered, planet-smart initiative helps nations turn ocean wealth into inclusive growth, climate resilience, and long-term stewardship.
Advancing Our 2030 Vision
From UNOC2 (2022) to UNOC3 (2025), the UNDP Ocean Promise is delivering real impact—advancing ocean governance, empowering communities, and unlocking sustainable finance on the path to 2030.
Explore the full update and see how far we've come.
READ THE OCEAN PROMISE PROGRESS
Know more about the Nature Hub's Ocean Governance programme.
