2025 is a pivotal year for ocean finance. With global momentum building around the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC, 9–13 June in Nice, France) and the Blue Economy and Finance Forum (BEFF, 7-8 June in Monaco), attention is turning to how public and private finance can help close the funding gap for SDG 14 – Life Below Water, the least funded of all Sustainable Development Goals. Through its Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Initiative (SBE FI), UNEP FI is supporting this shift by helping financial institutions align capital flows with ocean health. In 2025, SBE FI is contributing to a series of key moments, including the launch of the Ocean Investment Protocol (28 May, online), engagement in the Global Plastic Pollution Treaty and High Seas Treaty negotiations, and co-hosting dialogues at and around events such as the Our Ocean Conference (28-30 April in Busan, South Korea), the One Ocean Science Congress (3–6 June in Nice, France) and the Blue Economy & Finance Forum (7-8 June in Monaco).


 


28 May | Ocean Investment Protocol

Time: 15:00-16:00 CEST

Location: Online


Co-developed by UNEP FI and the UN Global Compact, the Ocean Investment Protocol provides a framework for financial institutions, insurers, development banks, and ocean-based industries to align with Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water) and related global commitments. The Protocol will be launched in a co-hosted webinar, offering guidance on how the finance industry can proactively manage environmental risks and leverage sustainable opportunities to help shape a thriving, resilient ocean economy.


Register for the launch webinar here.


 


3-6 June | One Ocean Science Congress

Location: Nice, France




The One Ocean Science Congress is a scientific event supporting the UN Ocean Conference. It aims to provide science-based insights to inform policies for ocean conservation and sustainable use. For UNEP FI members, it offers valuable guidance on integrating ocean sustainability into financial strategies, identifying responsible investment opportunities, managing environmental risks, and engaging in policy development to support a sustainable blue economy.


Find out more about One Ocean Science Congress here.


    

  • 5 June | Scientific support to the Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement (BBNJ). Time: 12:45–13:45 CEST. Location: Port Lympia, Room 8. This UNEP-convened event will feature UNEP FI speakers on the financial aspect of implementing the BBNJ. Read more here.
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7-8 June | Blue Economy and Finance Forum

Location: Grimaldi Forum, Monaco




The Forum will highlight and promote the critical role that sustainable investment, cutting-edge innovation, and forward-thinking policies play in ensuring the long-term health and prosperity of our oceans and economies alike. The BEFF will serve as a platform to exchange ideas, foster collaboration, and showcase the latest developments in the blue economy, with a clear focus on creating a resilient and thriving ocean ecosystem that benefits present and future generations.


    

  • 7 June | One Ocean Finance: The financing facility for a sustainable blue future. Time: 17:00-18:30 CEST. Co-hosted by UNEP FI.
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  • 7 June | Tackling plastic pollution and promoting circularity with finance. Time: 17:00-18:30 CEST. Co-hosted by UNEP FI.
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  • 7 June | Blue prosperity: Accelerating finance for the sustainable ocean economy. Time: 17:00-18:30 CEST. This side event will feature the Ocean Investment Protocol, co-published by UNEP FI and UN Global Compact.
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  • 8 June | Mainstreaming sustainable blue finance for a regenerative and sustainable blue economy – enabling and de-risking approaches. Time: 7:00-8:30 CEST.
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Find out more about the forum here.


 


9-13 June | UN Ocean Conference

Location: Nice, France




The overarching theme of the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) is “accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean.” Organized by the United Nations, the Conference aims to drive urgent action to conserve and sustainably use the ocean, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development, and to explore further means to support the implementation of SDG 14. UNEP FI, through the SBE FI, will contribute financial sector perspectives to key sessions, share relevant insights with its members, and participate in aligned side events. Please note that the events listed below are not convened by UNEP FI.


Learn more about UNOC here.


    

  • 10 June | Ocean Action Panel 3: Mobilising finance for ocean actions in the support of SDG14. Time: 10:00-13:00 CEST. Location: to be confirmed. Note: access to this event requires a blue zone pass. UNEP FI cannot provide passes. For more information, click here. 
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  • 11 June | Financing conservation in the high seas: Securing an ambitious and effective special fund under the BBNJ Agreement. Time: 7:30-10:00 CEST. Location: Hotel Aston La Scala (tbc). Side event organized by the BBNJ Finance Advisory Group (of which UNEP FI is a member).
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