• Climate impact: Subnational governments and coastal communities can close the global emissions gap by up to 35% by 2051 through implementing targeted, local ocean-based climate solutions.
• Environmental protection: Subnational governments play a direct role in preventing marine pollution and safeguarding coastlines through strategic land-use planning, effective waste management, and comprehensive environmental stewardship.
• Collaborative governance: Effective ocean governance depends seamless coordination across all levels of government, with subnational authorities serving as the crucial bridge between global goals and local implementation.
• Inclusive approaches: Subnational governments are uniquely positioned to implement inclusive, whole-of-government approaches to ocean protection, engaging local stakeholders, fishing communities, civil society organizations, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Subnational governments are leading transformative action for ocean health through integrated governance approaches that connect local implementation with global commitments. These governments have pioneered consultative strategies addressing biodiversity, sustainable development goals, and climate adaptation, offering a comprehensive vision that links oceans and coastal areas to their broader ecosystems and territories.

Regions4 call for action at UNOC

We, the subnational governments participating in the UN Ocean Conference, call upon national governments, international organizations, and financing mechanisms to:

1. Formally recognize and engage subnational governments in ocean governance frameworks and climate mechanisms, including NDCs, NAPS and Sustainable Ocean Plans.
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2. Establish direct funding channels to support subnational ocean action, particularly for blue carbon projects, marine protection initiatives, and coastal and just resilience programs.
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3. Strengthen multi-level governance collaboration to ensure cohesive approaches to tackling marine pollution and coastal erosion, protecting blue carbon ecosystems, and building climate resilience.
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4. Support capacity building, knowledge sharing, and technology transfer to empower all regions to implement effective ocean solutions.
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5. Develop monitoring frameworks that incorporate subnational data and metrics to track progress on ocean health and blue economy development.

As subnational leaders, we commit to advancing integrated solutions for ocean health, sharing best practices, and implementing ambitious actions that fulfill our shared commitments to SDG14, the Paris Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

📅 7 June – Ocean Rise & Coastal Resilience Coalition Summit 

Time: 9:00 CEST
Location: Blue Zone Venue, Port Lympia, Quai Amiral Infernet, 06300 Nice, France
Registration: Register at oceanrise-coalition.org
Regions4 Members speaking: Saint Louis, Rio de Janeiro, Manabí, Western Province, Cross River State, Flanders

Regions4, along with a delegation of leading subnational governments engaged in coastal management and preservation, will participate in the Ocean Rise and Coastal Resilience Summit. This event marks the official launch of the Ocean Rise and Coastal Resilience Coalition – an independent but aligned initiative aimed at supporting regions and cities in developing and executing transformative strategies to combat sea level rise and protect coastal zones. 

The summit will serve as a platform for meaningful dialogue among coastal municipalities, regional leaders, financial actors, scientists, and planners, fostering collaboration and promoting actionable solutions to shared coastal challenges. The highlights will include a high-level dialogue with local leaders, scientists, and investors, a showcase of best practices in coastal management, and the signing of the Coalition Charter by new partner regions. During the Summit we will announce which regions will sign the Charter of the Coastal Cities & Regions Coalition and become official partners of the Coalition.

📅8 June – Regions4 Members Gathering & Roundtable with President 

Time: 3:00 CEST 
Location: Central Nice – TBC

A closed-door meeting for Regions4 members with Regions4 President, Mr. John Swinney, First Minister of Scotland, to exchange on ocean priorities and network strategy from UNOC to COP30.

📅 9-13 June – UN Ocean Conference (Blue Zone) 

The high-level 2025 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development (the 2025 UN Ocean Conference) will be 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 Conference aims to support further and urgent action to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development and identify further ways and means to support the implementation of SDG 14. It will build on existing instruments to form successful partnerships towards the swift conclusion and effective implementation of ongoing processes that contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean. Regions4 will play a leading role and provide strong support throughout the events, actively engaging with its delegation on the ground.

📅 10 June – Networking Breakfast: Science to Policy – Harnessing Ocean Data for Sustainable Governance

Time: 8:30–10:00 CEST
Location: Mama Shelter Nice – 21 boulevard de Riquier
Organizers: Catalonia and supported by Regions4

📅 11 June – Localizing SDG 14: Strengthening Multi-Level Governance for Sustainable Ocean Action

Time: 15:45–17:00 CEST
Organizers: Led by UCLG and supported by Regions4
Location: Blue Zone Venue, Port Lympia, Quai Amiral Infernet, 06300 Nice, France

Featuring Manabí, this session discusses coordination between local and global levels.

📅 12 June – “Ocean Solutions at Scale: Empowering Subnational Action for Restoring the Health of Marine Ecosystems” 

Time: 15:00-16:30 CEST 
Location: Virtual
Registration: Register here
Organizers: Regions4 Biodiversity Learning Platform (R4BLP), with VLIZ, Quebec, Instituto Mar Adentro, Ocean & Climate Platform, UNESCO Chair for Sustainability of the Oceans, UCLG (TBC), and the European Committee of the Regions (CoR).  

This event spotlights the crucial role of subnational governments and coastal communities in implementing integrated solutions for ocean health. As primary administrators and policy makers of environmental and waste management systems, regions are uniquely positioned to combat marine pollution across plastic lifecycles while advancing climate resilience and biodiversity protection. Likewise, agricultural runoff in regions and cities are a growing threat to the world’s oceans, as highlighted in several reports for the past two decades. 

The session will feature subnational leaders, coastal community leaders and stakeholders including international networks of regions and coalitions showcasing innovative policies and nature-based solutions to restore the health of marine ecosystems and prevent plastic pollution. The session will also present the main messages of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) opinion on the European Oceans Pact and their proposals for the upcoming EU Water Resilience Strategy.

📅 11 June  – Coastal Catalysts: How Port Cities and Regions Are Advancing the Blue Economy

Time: 10:30-11:45
Location: Side event room 3
Organizers: Co-led by Regions4, C40 and Rio de Janeiro

📅 How Much is the Blue Worth?

Date: coming soon
Time: 16:00 CEST
Location: TBC
Organizers: Hosted by Rio de Janeiro

The State of Rio de Janeiro will host a special event featuring the premiere of “How Much is Blue Worth?”, a documentary of Guanabara Bay’s transition toward a sustainable blue economy. Further details soon on Regions4 website.

More ways to engage at UNOC!