What Is 2028 United Nations Ocean Conference

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2028 United Nations Ocean Conference will be a global summit co-hosted by Portugal and Kenya, scheduled for June 2028, aimed at advancing Sustainable Development Goal 14: conserving and sustainably using oceans, seas, and marine resources.

Key Facts

Conference scheduled for June 2028 in Lisbon, Portugal
Co-hosted by the governments of Portugal and Kenya
Focuses on accelerating progress toward SDG 14 by 2030
Expected to attract over 10,000 participants including leaders and NGOs
Follows previous UN Ocean Conferences in 2017 and 2022

Overview

The 2028 United Nations Ocean Conference is a pivotal international gathering aimed at revitalizing global efforts to protect marine ecosystems and advance Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water). Set to take place in June 2028 in Lisbon, Portugal, the summit will bring together governments, scientists, civil society, and private sector leaders to address urgent ocean challenges.

Co-hosted by Portugal and Kenya, the conference builds on the momentum of previous UN Ocean Conferences held in 2017 and 2022. Its primary goal is to accelerate implementation of ocean-related actions, including reducing marine pollution, protecting coastal habitats, and promoting sustainable fisheries.

Host nations: Portugal and Kenya will jointly lead the 2028 conference, symbolizing North-South collaboration in ocean governance and sustainable development.
Primary objective: The summit aims to secure new voluntary commitments from nations and organizations to protect at least 30% of the global ocean by 2030 (30x30 target).
Expected attendance: Over 10,000 participants are projected, including heads of state, UN officials, scientists, and representatives from over 150 countries.
Key agenda items: Topics include combating illegal fishing, expanding marine protected areas (MPAs), and scaling blue economy investments in developing nations.
Follow-up mechanism: The 2028 conference will assess progress since the 2022 conference, where 800+ commitments were made, valued at over $26 billion.

How It Works

The conference operates through multilateral dialogue, side events, and the formal registration of country-led ocean action pledges. These commitments are tracked in a UN-maintained registry to ensure transparency and accountability.

Voluntary Commitments:Any UN member state or organization can register a pledge to advance SDG 14, such as funding coral reef restoration or banning single-use plastics by 2030.
Science-Policy Interface: The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) provides data and technical guidance to inform policy decisions and measure progress.
Multi-Stakeholder Engagement: Private companies, NGOs, and Indigenous groups participate through official side events and Global Youth Dialogues on ocean sustainability.
Financing Mechanism: The Global Environment Facility (GEF) and World Bank support developing nations with grants for sustainable marine projects.
Monitoring Framework: Progress is evaluated using UN indicator 14.1.1, which tracks marine plastic debris and nutrient pollution levels in coastal waters.
Diplomatic Coordination: The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) oversees logistics, negotiations, and the final political declaration.

Comparison at a Glance

Comparing the 2028 conference with prior UN Ocean Conferences highlights evolving priorities and increasing global engagement.

Year	Host Cities	Key Outcomes	Voluntary Commitments	Total Pledged Funding
2017	New York, USA	Launch of SDG 14 implementation framework	1,400+	$17.5 billion
2022	Lisbon, Portugal	Focus on ocean-based climate solutions	800+	$26 billion
2028 (Projected)	Lisbon, Portugal	Accelerating 30x30 marine protection goal	1,200+ (estimated)	$30+ billion (target)
2017 vs 2022	Global	Marine pollution reduction targets strengthened	Commitments decreased by 43%	Funding increased by 49%
2022 vs 2028 (est.)	Lisbon	Greater emphasis on equity and blue economy	50% increase projected	15% increase targeted

The data shows a shift from broad mobilization in 2017 to more targeted, well-funded actions by 2028. While the number of commitments dipped in 2022, funding levels rose significantly, suggesting higher-quality pledges. The 2028 conference aims to combine both quantity and impact, especially in supporting small island developing states (SIDS).

Why It Matters

The 2028 UN Ocean Conference is critical for maintaining global momentum on ocean health, especially as climate change intensifies threats to marine biodiversity. With over 3 billion people dependent on marine ecosystems for livelihoods, the stakes for equitable and enforceable action have never been higher.

Climate Resilience: Healthy oceans absorb over 25% of global CO2 emissions, making marine protection a key climate mitigation strategy.
Economic Impact: The blue economy contributes an estimated $1.5 trillion annually to global GDP, supporting fisheries, tourism, and renewable energy.
Biodiversity Protection: Over 90% of marine species remain undiscovered, underscoring the need to safeguard unexplored ocean regions.
Food Security: Fish provide 20% of animal protein for 3.3 billion people, particularly in low-income coastal communities.
Legal Accountability: The conference supports enforcement of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty, ratified in 2025.
Youth Engagement: Over 30% of side events at past conferences involved youth-led organizations advocating for intergenerational justice.

As the 2030 deadline for the SDGs approaches, the 2028 Ocean Conference serves as a final major opportunity to reverse marine degradation and ensure sustainable ocean governance for future generations.