April 28, 2025 | 12:42 pm
TEMPO.CO, Busan, Korea - The 10th Our Ocean Conference (OOC), a crucial event for ocean action and climate leadership, brings together international leaders, policy makers, stakeholders, scientists, indigenous advocates, young leaders, and civil society from all over the world at BEXCO in Busan, Republic of Korea, today, April 28, 2025.
With the theme "Our Ocean, Our Action," this tenth anniversary event offer a special forum to assess advancements, duplicate effective methods, and inspire fresh pledges for ocean conservation.
Do-hyung Kang, Minister of the Republic of Korea's Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, stated that this tenth OOC primarily focus 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.
Life on Earth is supported by the ocean, which spans more than 70% of the world. It sustains global agricultural systems, propels the blue economy, and controls the climate by absorbing more than 90% of the surplus heat trapped by greenhouse gases.
The OOC has emerged as the premier global forum for high-impact, voluntary ocean action, with more than 2,600 commitments have been made, and is a call to accelerate progress and include more regions and voices in the global ocean agenda, particularly in South Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East.
This 2025 conference will reveal a comprehensive evaluation of the pledges made since its initial edition for the first time in its history. According to the WRI-prepared research, of the $160 billion pledged through OOC so far, more than $133 billion in funding has been delivered or is in way. This includes financing initiatives to combat illicit fishing and preserve marine biodiversity.
A sizeable amount of funds have also been allocated to ocean-climate projects, which use ocean-based solutions to reduce emissions and prepare for climate change.
Important treaties, like the High Seas Treaty, have been ratified by Korea just one month ago, making it the twenty-first country to do so, and marine protected areas (MPAs) have also been established. At OOC, about half of the MPAs that are currently in effect were first declared.
Ocean-based solutions might provide up to 35 percent of the emissions reductions required by 2050 to meet climate targets if they receive the proper funding. However, $2 trillion in investment over the next 20 years will be needed to realize that promise.
With increasing optimism that the treaty will soon come into effect, momentum from Busan is anticipated to continue into the UN Ocean Conference in Nice this June, even though 60 countries still need to approve it for it to take effect.
Tom Pickerell, Global Director of World Resources Institute Ocean Program, stated that multilateral cooperation is already proven possible, now people must watch 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.” said Tom.
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