10 June 2025, Nice France – Pacific island countries engaging in the ongoing third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice France have lamented what they refer to as a “bitter paradox” when it comes to mobilising finance for Ocean actions to support Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14.
Speaking on Day 2 of UNOC3, Palau Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Environment, Hon. Steven Victor, reminded that Pacific countries are not only custodians of the vast Ocean, “we are champions of its protection.”
“Yet, in a bitter paradox, while we lead globally in safeguarding our marine resources, Pacific Island Countries remain among the least supported in doing so. Despite our stewardship we face persistent inequities in access to finance,” he said.
“SDG 14—Life Below Water—is the least funded of all the Sustainable Development Goals and Small Island Developing States receive just a fraction—0.22%—of global climate finance.”
The 2025 UN Ocean Conference, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica from 9 – 13 June 2025 is guided by the overarching theme “Accelerating action and mobilising all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean.”
Speaking on behalf of Pacific countries during Ocean Action Panel 3 which focuses on mobilising finance for ocean actions in support of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 14, Minister Victor said SDG 14 remains one of the least funded and implemented global goals, with developing states bearing the bulk of the burden.
This exacerbates the “bitter paradox” he said, but not because the Pacific has failed to act.
“We are embedding ocean action into our Nationally Determined Contributions, National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans, National Adaptation Plans and corresponding Financing Strategies,” said Minister Victor.
“But we are still waiting on fair, timely finance to strengthen our scientific data, institutional capacities, and ocean finance systems to ensure these plans are fully informed and effectively implemented.”
One of the regional initiatives he highlighted as the Pacific’s response to persistent inequities in access to finance, data, science and technology considered as fundamental to Ocean protection is Unlocking Blue Pacific Prosperity (UBPP).
Unanimously endorsed by Pacific Leaders at the 52nd Pacific Island Leaders Forum in the Cook Islands, the UBPP is the Pacific’s formal voluntary regional commitment to sustainably manage 100% of our Ocean territory and to protect 30% of it by 2030. Dubbed the “largest conservation effort in history,” it will conserve more than 20% of the world’s EEZ’s, covering more than 2 billion hectares, an area roughly the size of Europe.
UNOC3 has brought more than 60 world leaders, including many from the Pacific to France to address the deepening crisis in the Ocean driven by overfishing, climate change and pollution. The meeting hopes to come up with solutions to turn a corner as nations feud over deep-sea mining, plastic litter and exploitative fishing, against a backdrop of wider geopolitical tensions.
“The Pacific is already delivering,” he said.
“From Palau’s pioneering approach using traditional methods for protecting our pristine ocean and Rock Islands, to Fiji’s blue bond, to Niue’s ocean conservation trust and conservation credits —we are showing the world what innovation looks like from the frontlines. These efforts demonstrate both our capacity and our commitment to a thriving Ocean economy.”
Minister Victor said at UNOC3, it is time for fair, timely finance to strengthen our scientific data, institutional capacities, and ocean finance systems.
“The full value of the ocean will only be unlocked when investments match ambition,” he said. “Impactful ocean investment cannot happen in isolation—it must account for the full picture: conservation, climate resilience, food systems, and the everyday realities of Pacific communities.
“The international financial system must be reformed to deliver direct access to finance and reduce the layers that dilute our efforts, and remove administrative and procedural bottlenecks.
“Financial instruments must be tailored to SIDS-specific needs and realities, and eligibility criteria must be complemented by the multidimensional vulnerability index.”
The third UN Ocean Conference is co-hosted by France and Costa Rica and held in Nice, France, from 9 – 13 June 2025. The overarching theme of the Conference is “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean”.
The Pacific Islands are represented by a strong contingent, which includes Leaders from the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, French Polynesia, Niue, Palau, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa and Tuvalu.
Also present and engaged are Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu.
The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) is providing support to Pacific delegations as part of the One CROP support.
SPREP will provide more Pacific news from the UNOC2025. For further information on the UN Ocean Conference 2025, please visit: https://sdgs.un.org/conferences/ocean2025