Over 200 NGOs Call for Urgent Action on Offshore Fossil Fuel Exploration Ahead of UN Conference in Nice
Open letter signed by over 200 NGOs urges governments gathering at decisive UN summit to prohibit hydrocarbon exploration at sea and protect marine ecosystems.
PRESS RELEASE – 3 June 2025
Over 200 NGOs Call for Urgent Action on Offshore Fossil Fuel Exploration Ahead of UN Conference in Nice
- More than 200 environmental organisations worldwide demand immediate ban on offshore oil and gas exploration to protect marine ecosystems and the climate
- Coalition urges world leaders to commit to transformative ocean protection measures at UN Ocean Conference 2025
- Open letter highlights critical window for action as Ocean faces unprecedented threats from climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss
Less than one week before world leaders gather in Nice for the United Nations Ocean Conference 2025, a powerful coalition of 207 environmental organisations has issued an urgent call for governments to commit to banning offshore oil and gas exploration and to agree to comprehensive ocean protection measures.
The open letter is a remarkable display of global unity from civil society. Signatories include leading marine conservation groups, climate coalitions, and grassroots organisations from six continents, all demanding decisive action to address the deteriorating state of the Ocean.
Nicolas Entrup, Director of International Relations at OceanCare:
“The window of opportunity for meaningful ocean action is rapidly closing. This unprecedented coalition of over 200 organisations is sending a clear message to global leaders: we cannot afford to continue searching for new oil and gas deposits in the ocean. If we are to be consistent and honest in our efforts to tackle the climate crisis and the devastating state of our oceans, this must stop. The UN Ocean Conference in Nice represents a critical moment for governments to demonstrate genuine leadership by committing to ban offshore oil and gas exploration and agreeing on comprehensive protection measures for our blue planet.”
Bruna Campos , Senior Campaigner, Offshore Oil and Gas at the Center for International Environmental Law:
“The fossil fuel industry is the largest emitter of global greenhouse gases and directly impacts marine life, from microorganisms to the largest whales. At the UN Ocean Conference, governments must clearly define the measures they will take to protect the ocean and mitigate the climate impacts of fossil fuels. Our ocean will not be healthy until it is free from oil and gas. The time for a fossil-free ocean is now.”
Joe Moeono-Kolio , Chief Advisor, Pacific, Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative:
“The Ocean is sacred: it has been the lifeblood, identity and cradle of Pacific peoples for millenia. It is now under siege by the twin forces of destruction: The fossil fuel production and use that poisons it and the looming threat of deep sea mining that strips away at its life. As leaders gather at UNOC3, we need decision makers who are not driven by short-sighted greed but who are courageous enough to have actual substance in their leadership. The life of the Ocean and all of us who depend on it will endure if there is a clear commitment to phase out fossil fuels and reject deep sea mining.”
Flora McMorrin , Director, RISE UP:
“Since 2019, the RISE UP Blue Call to Action, now backed by over 750 organisations worldwide, has urged governments to immediately ban new offshore oil and gas exploration and rapidly phase out existing operations. We welcome this new joint letter as a powerful reaffirmation of those demands. As we approach the UN Ocean Conference 2025, world leaders must seize this critical moment to end offshore fossil fuel expansion, protect marine biodiversity, and invest in a just, low-impact energy transition for a thriving ocean and climate.”
The coalition emphasises that continued offshore fossil fuel exploration is fundamentally incompatible with meeting the Paris Agreement's climate targets and protecting marine biodiversity. Current exploration activities involve the use of airguns that produce some of the loudest human-generated noise in the marine environment, causing severe harm to marine wildlife from the smallest zooplankton to the largest whales.
The letter calls on governments to commit to transitioning away from fossil fuels by prohibiting all new exploration activities for fossil fuels in areas within and beyond national jurisdiction, in line with the objective agreed at the COP28 climate conference. With the conference due to begin on 9 June, the organisations are urging governments to incorporate such a commitment into the Declaration, which will chart a course for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 13 and 14. Consistency requires keeping fossil fuels in the ground by immediately ending the exploration of new hydrocarbon deposits, which would strengthen the link between marine conservation and climate action.
ENDS
Media contact
- Dániel Fehér, Head of Press, OceanCare: +49 176 81434026; dfeher@oceancare.org
Publication
- Open Letter from NGOs: “End Fossil Fuel Exploration in the Ocean” (with list of signatories)
Notes to editors
The Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) will be held in Nice, France, in June 2025. Co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, this high-level conference focuses on accelerating the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water). UNOC3 provides a crucial opportunity for governments to commit to concrete actions for ocean protection and address the interconnected crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
OceanCare's initiative “Because Our Planet Is Blue” calls for six specific actions to protect the Ocean, including as its first demand: “Ban offshore oil and gas exploration and phase out existing fossil fuel extraction.” The campaign highlights that despite Paris Agreement targets, billions of dollars continue to be spent exploring for oil and gas in the seabed, even within marine protected areas.
Image material
- Because Our Planet Is Blue campaign visual “Oil and Gas”
- Because Our Planet Is Blue campaign visual “Underwater Noise”
About OceanCare
OceanCare is an international marine conservation non-governmental organisation, founded in Switzerland in 1989. The organisation pursues the protection and restoration of the marine environment and marine wildlife with a strong policy focus, combining research, conservation projects and education. OceanCare’s remit includes marine pollution, climate change, marine mammal hunting and the environmental consequences of fisheries. Its work is supported by a team of scientific, legal and policy experts, and involves strategic collaboration with civil society organisations and coalitions around the world. OceanCare is an officially accredited partner and observer to several UN conventions and other international fora. www.oceancare.org
About the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)
The Center for International Environmental Law is a non-for-profit organization that since 1989, uses the power of law to protect the environment, including the oceans, promote human rights, and ensure a just and sustainable society. CIEL seeks a world where the law reflects the interconnection between humans and the environment, respects the limits of the planet, protects the dignity and equality of each person, and encourages all of earth’s inhabitants to live in balance with each other. CIEL pursues its mission through legal research and advocacy, education and training, with a focus on connecting global challenges to the experiences of communities on the ground. In the process, we build and maintain lasting partnerships with communities and non-profit organizations around the world. www.ciel.org
About the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative
The Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative is spurring international cooperation to end new development of fossil fuels, phase out existing production within the agreed climate limit of 1.5°C and develop plans to support workers, communities and countries dependent on fossil fuels to create secure and healthy livelihoods. For more information on the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative and proposal, access here. www.fossilfueltreaty.org
About RISE UP
RISE UP is a global network of over 750 organisations committed to ensuring that ocean policies and decision-making are shaped by the communities most affected by them. We unite and amplify the voices of ocean focused civil society, small-scale fisher and Indigenous Peoples organisations to influence ocean policy. By working with allied policymakers and partners, we help ensure that ocean-dependent communities are heard at the highest levels. Our mission is to drive more inclusive, just, and sustainable outcomes for the ocean. www.riseupfortheocean.org