Overview

• The OOSC convened over 2,000 scientists in Nice from June 3 to 6 to present strategic, science-based guidance ahead of the UN Conference on the Ocean starting June 9.
• Presentations revealed unprecedented ocean warming, including Mediterranean temperatures peaking at 29.9 °C in August 2024, driving mass die-offs of corals, mollusks and other marine species.
• Delegates highlighted nature-based solutions such as restoring blue carbon ecosystems and examined technological approaches like ocean alkalinization to boost CO₂ absorption.
• Speakers cautioned about accelerating ocean acidification and biodiversity loss and stressed the need to embed rigorous scientific data into international ocean policy.
• The congress underscored growing political and financial pressures on environmental research and called for stronger safeguards to protect scientific integrity in global ocean governance.