The third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) opened June 9 amid rising pressure for nations to turn decades of promises into real protection for the sea.

The weeklong summit came as just 2.7 percent of the ocean was effectively protected from destructive, extractive activities, according to the ocean advocacy nonprofit Marine Conservation Institute. That's far below the target agreed upon under the global “30x30” pledge to conserve 30 percent of land and sea by 2030.

Atop this year’s agenda was a diplomatic race to ratify the High Seas Treaty. Adopted in 2023, the treaty would, for the first time, allow nations to establish marine protected areas in international waters, which cover nearly two-thirds of the ocean and are largely ungoverned.

The ocean is critical in stabilizing Earth’s climate and sustaining life. It generates 50 percent of the oxygen we breathe, absorbs around 30 percent of carbon dioxide emissions and captures more than 90 percent of the excess heat caused by those emissions. Without a healthy ocean, experts warn, climate goals will remain out of reach.

The treaty will only come into force once 60 countries ratify it. As of June 8, just 32 countries had done so. Advocates hope UNOC can build enough momentum to cross the threshold, which would allow for the first official Oceans Conference of Parties.

South Korea, France and the European Union have championed the treaty, but most large ocean nations have yet to ratify it, including the rest of the G20.

Beyond new commitments, the conference cast a spotlight on the growing gap between marine protection declarations and real-world conservation.

The conference featured 10 panels on topics such as blue finance, sustainable fisheries and plastic pollution. Deep-sea mining was expected to feature in broader discussions, while small island states were likely to use the platform to advocate for increased climate adaptation funding.

The outcome of these discussions was expected to form the basis of the Nice Ocean Action Plan—a declaration of voluntary commitments to be adopted by consensus and presented at the United Nations in New York this July.

This article was provided by The Associated Press.