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A Decade of Ocean Action: 10th Our Ocean Conference Opens in Busan

SOUTH KOREA
Monday, April 28, 2025, 03:00 (GMT + 9)

Global leaders convene to celebrate achievements, assess commitments, and forge future strategies for ocean sustainability and climate leadership.

Busan – Today marks the opening of the landmark 10th Our Ocean Conference (OOC) at BEXCO in Busan, Republic of Korea. This pivotal event gathers a diverse global community – including leaders, policymakers, stakeholders, scientists, indigenous advocates, youth representatives, and civil society – to galvanize further action for ocean protection and climate leadership.

Under the theme “Our Ocean, Our Action,” this 10th-anniversary conference provides a crucial platform to evaluate the progress made over the past decade, share successful models for ocean conservation, and generate new, impactful commitments for the future.

“The tenth Our Ocean Conference will primarily focus on the achievements and success stories of the last 10 years, while also charting the future direction for international cooperation in the decade ahead,” stated Do-hyung Kang, Minister of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea. “This conference is poised to be a significant moment for international collaboration, laying a vital foundation for our collective efforts towards a shared and sustainable future.”

The need for coordinated global efforts to protect our ocean has never been more critical. Covering over 70% of the planet, the ocean sustains all life on Earth, regulates the climate by absorbing over 90% of excess heat trapped by greenhouse gases, supports global food systems, and drives the vital blue economy.

Yet, the ocean faces unprecedented threats. The combined pressures of warming waters, acidification, and unsustainable human activities are causing significant degradation of marine life and accelerating biodiversity loss, with far-reaching consequences for coastal communities, food security, and ocean-based economies worldwide.

Why This 10th Conference Matters:

The Our Ocean Conference has evolved into the world’s premier platform for voluntary, high-impact ocean action. Over the past decade, it has generated more than 2,600 commitments, played a key role in establishing marine protected areas (MPAs), spurred the ratification of crucial treaties such as the High Seas Treaty, and advanced the sustainable blue economy. Notably, nearly half of all globally implemented MPAs were first announced at OOC.

A significant first for the 2025 conference is the disclosure of an in-depth assessment of the commitments made since the inaugural event. The report, prepared by the World Resources Institute (WRI), reveals that over $133 billion in funding has already been delivered or is in progress out of the $160 billion pledged to date through OOC. This funding supports critical efforts to protect marine biodiversity, combat illegal fishing, and significantly contributes to ocean-climate projects that leverage ocean-based solutions to reduce emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

These voluntary commitments are increasingly vital as they complement recent international agreements and ambitious multilateral ocean initiatives.

Just last month, the Republic of Korea became the 21st nation to ratify the High Seas Treaty. While the Treaty still requires approval from 60 countries to enter into force, the momentum generated in Busan is expected to carry forward to the UN Ocean Conference in Nice this June, fostering growing confidence that the treaty will soon become legally binding.

Looking Ahead: From Possibility to Tangible Impact:

With adequate financial support, ocean-based solutions have the potential to deliver up to 35% of the emissions reductions needed by 2050 to achieve critical climate goals. However, unlocking this potential will require an estimated $2 trillion in investment over the next two decades.

As leaders and experts gather for this 10th Our Ocean Conference, it is crucial that this event serves not only as a celebration of a decade of action but also as a powerful call to accelerate progress and engage more regions and voices in the global ocean agenda, particularly across Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and South Asia.

“We’ve already demonstrated that meaningful multilateral cooperation is possible – now we must match that with greater ambition, speed, and scale,” emphasized Tom Pickerell, Global Director, World Resources Institute Ocean Program. “The health of our ocean is not solely an environmental concern; it has profound implications for human health, economic stability, and global security. The decisions we make today will determine whether our ocean can continue to sustain us tomorrow.”

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