By Our Ocean Conference
In April 28th 2025, global leaders, policy makers, stakeholders, scientists, indigenous advocates, youth leaders, and civil society from around the world gathered at BEXCO in Busan, Republic of Korea, for the 10th Our Ocean Conference (OOC), a pivotal moment for ocean action and climate leadership.
Under the title “Our Ocean, Our Action,” this 10th anniversary event provided a unique platform to evaluate progress, replicate successful models and generate new commitments for ocean protection.
“The tenth Our Ocean Conference primarily focused on the achievements and success stories over the past 10 years, while also establishing the future direction for international cooperation over the next decade. The conference is set to be a significant moment for international cooperation, providing a crucial foundation for our collective efforts towards a shared future” said Do-hyung Kang, Minister of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea.
The need for coordinated global efforts has never been more urgent. The ocean covers over 70% of the planet and sustains life on Earth. It regulates the climate by absorbing over 90% of the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gases, supports global food systems and drives the blue economy.
Yet it is under unprecedented threat. The combined impacts of warming waters, acidification and unsustainable human activity are degrading marine life, accelerating biodiversity loss, with far-reaching consequences for coastal communities, food security, and ocean-based economies.
Why this Moment Matters
Our Ocean Conference has now become the world’s leading platform for voluntary, high-impact ocean action. It has generated more than 2,600 commitments, helped to establish marine protected areas (MPAs), drove ratification of key treaties like the High Seas Treaty, and advanced the sustainable blue economy. Nearly half of globally implemented MPAs were first announced at OOC.
For the first time in its history, the 2025 conference disclosed an in-depth assessment of the commitments made since its first edition. The report, prepared by the WRI, shows that more than USD 133 billion in funding has already been delivered or is in progress, of the USD 160 billion pledged to date through OOC. This includes funding efforts to protect marine biodiversity, fight illegal fishing, and a significant portion of funding has gone to ocean-climate projects which utilize ocean-based solutions to cut emissions and adapt to climate change.
These voluntary commitments are increasingly relevant as they complement recent international agreements and multilateral ocean ambitions.
Just a month ago, the Republic of Korea became the 21st nation to ratify theHigh Seas Treaty. While the Treatystill needs approval from 60 countries to take effect, momentum from Busan is expected to continue toward the UN Ocean Conference in Nice this June,with growing confidence that the treaty will soon enter into force.
Looking Ahead: From Possibility to Impact
With the right financial support, ocean-based solutions could deliver up to 35% of the emissions reductions needed by 2050 to keep climate goals within reach. Yet unlocking that potential will require USD 2 trillion in investment over the next two decades.
As leaders and experts convene for the 10th Our Ocean Conference, let’s make sure it serves not only as a celebration of a decade of action, but also as a call to accelerate progress and bring more regions and voices into the global ocean agenda, especially across Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and South Asia.
“We’ve already proven that multilateral cooperation is possible—now we must match it with ambition, speed, and scale. The health of our ocean is not just an environmental issue, it has profound implications on human health, economic stability and global security. The decisions we make today will determine whether our ocean can continue to sustain us tomorrow.” saidTom Pickerell, Global Director, World Resources Institute Ocean Program.
Our Ocean Conference
The Our Ocean Conference gathers approximately 1,000 global leaders from various sectors, including heads of state and high-level government officials from over 100 countries, and representatives from more than 400 international and non-profit organizations. Together, they discuss diverse and concrete actions for a sustainable ocean.
Since the inaugural Our Ocean Conference in the United States in 2014, over 2,600 voluntary commitments have been announced at subsequent conferences held in Chile, the European Union, Indonesia, Norway, Palau, and Greece. Today, the conference serves as a leading platform for establishing global ocean norms.
Key achievements of OOC include expanding marine protected areas, reducing marine plastic pollution, eradicating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, reducing lost and discarded fishing gear, ratifying the High Seas Treaty, supporting ocean research, science and technology, and addressing the impact of climate change on the ocean.
For more information: https://ourocean2025.kr www.ouroceanconference.org
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