The Fifth UN Ocean Forum will discuss and propose calls for action to secure the future of our oceans, with a focus on trade-related aspects of SDG 14 (life below water). The Forum is expected to contribute to discussions at the Third UN Ocean Conference and the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) 16th Ministerial Conference.
UNCTAD is co-organizing the Forum with the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS), the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS), and the International Oceans Institute (IOI). The Governments of France, Costa Rica, Portugal, and the UK are co-sponsoring the event, which will convene in person and online.
The Forum will focus on the ocean economy, trade policy, and the climate and development nexus and feature thematic sessions on trade trends, nationally determined contributions (NDCs) for ocean sectors, South-South trade, innovative marine products, and blue finance. The Forum aims to support alignment of trade and economic policies with ocean sustainability and the sustainable use of marine resources. It is expected to result in a Chair’s summary with policy recommendations and actions on trade-related aspects of SDG 14 as well as contributions to a number of ocean-related events in 2025.
The Forum will launch several initiatives, including:
- a renewed Ocean Trade Database with specific economic indicators;
- a proposal for a UN task force on the sustainable growth of the seaweed sector; and
- a UNCTAD and DESA project on evidence-based ocean climate action to support Caribbean small island developing States (SIDS), which is a voluntary commitment under the UN Ocean Conference.
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DATE
3–5 March 2025
LOCATION
Geneva, Switzerland
