As we begin 2025, it's a good time to assess our progress in ocean conservation, especially ahead of the United Nations Ocean Conference in France this summer.

 

The world has witnessed historic agreements and progress toward a healthier ocean in the past two years alone. The adoption of the Agreement on Marine Biodiversity Beyond Areas of National Jurisdiction, better known as the High Seas Treaty, marked a major milestone in global ocean governance, aiming to protect marine life in international waters for the first time. The Global Biodiversity Framework reinforced this momentum by committing to protect 30% of Earth’s land and ocean areas by 2030, a critical target known as 30x30. Furthermore, negotiations on the Global Plastics Treaty are continuing, signaling a long-awaited effort to address plastic pollution at its root. 

But while these developments reflect a growing global commitment to ocean health, progress remains too slow as the planet blows past major tipping points and leaders miss established deadlines. Last year, the planet officially passed the 1.5°C warming threshold, with 2024 becoming the hottest year on record. The ocean, which absorbs 90% of this excess heat, continues to warm at an alarming rate, now four times faster than it did in the 1980s. For over 450 consecutive days, sea surface temperatures remained at record-breaking highs, leading to unprecedented marine heatwaves, mass coral bleaching, and ecosystem disruptions. Scientists warn that if emissions continue on their current trajectory, ocean warming over the next two decades could surpass what we’ve seen in the past 40 years combined.

Progress on protecting marine biodiversity is also not progressing fast enough. Halfway through the decade, only 8.3% of the ocean today is under some form of protection, and just 2.8% is highly or fully protected with strong safeguards against destructive activities. At this rate, we will reach just under 10% protection by 2030, falling far short of the 30% target. Countries must dramatically accelerate efforts to designate and enforce marine protected areas, particularly in biodiversity hotspots and critical blue carbon ecosystems.

A major barrier to achieving these goals is the severe lack of ocean finance. Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water) remains the least funded of all the SDGs, with an estimated $175 billion needed annually to meet global ocean protection targets. While ocean philanthropy has grown, reaching $1 billion in 2022, it still accounts for less than 1% of total philanthropic giving. Meanwhile, governments continue to spend hundreds of billions on subsidies that harm the ocean, including $22 billion annually in fisheries subsidies alone. Without a major shift in financial priorities—redirecting funding from destructive industries toward conservation, sustainable fisheries, and ocean-based climate solutions—global commitments will remain out of reach.

One of the most promising developments in ocean governance, the High Seas Treaty, has the potential to transform marine conservation beyond national borders, but it is not yet in force. While 107 nations have signed the treaty, signaling intention to ratify, only 15 have formally ratified it. At least 60 countries must ratify the agreement to become legally binding, and time is running out. 

The upcoming UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in June 2025 presents a critical opportunity to secure the necessary ratifications and ensure the treaty’s swift implementation. UNOC3 will also serve as a significant moment for scaling up ocean finance, strengthening 30x30 efforts, and integrating ocean-based climate solutions into global climate strategies.

The ocean is our greatest climate ally, yet, we are pushing it to the brink. As we move through 2025, we face a pivotal moment: will we take the necessary steps to turn commitments into action, or will we let this critical decade slip away? 

Updates from members of the Blue Climate Collective:

  • The Climate Foundation has been selected as one of 12 finalists for Phase II of the prestigious Bezos Earth Fund’s $1M Greenhouse Gas Removal Ideation Prize. Our innovative project focuses on revolutionizing marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) measurement through an integrated approach combining drone technology with biomass and sediment data analysis.
  • eOceans a data-driven platform for ocean monitoring, just released a case study on the La Jolla MPA in California. By integrating historical and real-time data, the study assessed biodiversity, human activity, and emerging threats, offering key insights into conservation effectiveness. With eOceans, the team streamlined monitoring efforts, saving time and resources while staying focused on marine health.
  • SeaO2, a pioneer in Direct Ocean Capture (DOC) technology, just secured over €2 million in seed funding to advance its mission of removing CO₂ directly from seawater. With backing from investors like DOEN Participaties and Future Tech Ventures, SeaO₂ aims to scale from prototype to pilot plant in 2025, with an initial capacity of 250 tons of CO₂ per year. Their goal is to remove 1 megaton of CO₂ by 2030 and 1 gigaton by 2045 to help combat climate change.
  • Cascadia Seaweed, North America's largest cultivator of seaweed-derived agricultural products, just secured CAD$4 million in the first close of its Series A funding round. With investments from WWF Impact and other partners, the company plans to build a commercial-scale seaweed biorefinery, expand biomass production, and scale sales of its biostimulants and livestock products. Partnering with coastal First Nations, Cascadia Seaweed continues to drive regenerative agriculture while reducing agricultural emissions and enhancing food security.
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