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Global Ocean Accounts Partnership
The Pledge to Advance Ocean Accounts by 2030

The Pledge to Advance Ocean Accounts by 2030

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Led by Costa Rica, the Pledge is open to countries and organisations that want to work together to strengthen the role of ocean accounting in governance. Will be featured at UNOC 3

A Global Platform Leading to UNOC 3

The Pledge to Advance Ocean Accounts by 2030 is a voluntary international initiative launched in the lead-up to the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC 3), taking place in Nice, France (9–13 June 2025).

Led by Costa Rica, the Pledge is open to countries and organisations that want to work together to strengthen the role of ocean accounting in governance.

Read the Pledge Declaration

How the Pledge to Advance Ocean Accounts works

The Pledge is designed as an umbrella framework that accommodates the diverse priorities and capacities of each signatory. Countries and organizations can align their contributions with national priorities while collaborating on global goals for ocean sustainability.

It provides a shared platform to signal ambition, mobilise support, and align with global efforts under SDG 14, the Global Biodiversity Framework, and the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.

Signatories are also invited to submit an optional individual complementary statement to explain how they plan to engage or what they have already done.

Joining the Pledge is a way to:

  • Align national or institutional efforts with a recognised international initiative;
  • Gain visibility ahead and during UNOC 3;
  • Attract technical partnerships and financial support for implementation.

Who has signed the Pledge to Advance Ocean Accounts

  • Republic of Costa Rica

  • Antigua and Barbuda

  • Republic of Palau

  • Republic of Maldives

  • Socialist Republic of Viet Nam’s
    Institute of Strategy and Policy on Agriculture and Environment (ISPAE)

  • Canada

  • United Mexican States 

  • Republic of Fiji

  • Togolese Republic*

  • Republic of Mozambique

  • Belize

  • Republic of Panama

  • Republic of Chile

  • Norway

  • Portuguese Republic

  • Republic of Indonesia
    Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (GOAP Co-Chair)

  • United Kingdom

  • Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

  • Australia

  • Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galápagos Islands (GOAP Co-Chair)

  • OSPAR Convention

  •  Rekam Nusantara Foundation

  • Belmont Forum

  • Friends of the Cocos Islands (FAICO)

  • MarViva Foundation

  • Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI)

* signed in absentia

The Pledge will be formally presented on the main stage at UNOC 3, and early signatories will be publicly recognised. Leading up to that, countries and organisations have the opportunity to engage or sign at several upcoming events.

Guide to join the Pledge

Learn more about engaging with the Pledge at UNOC 3

Why Ocean Accounts?

As ocean health declines and demands on marine ecosystems increase, countries need better information systems to manage ocean use, protect biodiversity, and address climate impacts.

Ocean accounts bring together environmental, social, and economic data to support:

  • Marine spatial planning and coastal resilience;
  • Sustainable finance and climate reporting;
  • National planning and global goal tracking (e.g. SDG 14, GBF, NDCs).

By developing ocean accounts, countries gain the tools needed to balance development and conservation while fulfilling their international obligations.

Why join the Pledge?

The Pledge provides a commitment for countries and organisations that want to advance ocean accounts, at their own pace, in ways that align with national priorities.

It does not impose specific requirements, but instead offers a flexible framework to:

  • Highlight national ambitions in ocean data and governance;
  • Join a recognised global coalition leading into UNOC 3;
  • Attract visibility and support for national implementation efforts;
  • Access peer learning, technical partnerships, and funding pathways.

Joining the Pledge is an effective way to:

  • Demonstrate credibility on the international stage;
  • Show alignment with major frameworks like the UN Decade of Ocean Science, SDG 14, and the Global Biodiversity Framework;
  • Mobilise political and financial capital to scale domestic efforts.

What does being a Signatory mean?

By signing, countries and organisations agree to:

  • Advance ocean accounts by 2030, aligned with their national needs;
  • Consider ocean account data in planning, policy, and monitoring;
  • Collaborate globally by sharing knowledge, supporting capacity, and building collective capability​.

Signatories are encouraged to consider developing optional individual complementary statements that outline specific actions, measurable outcomes, and timelines aligned with their unique context. See example country statements which may be used for the Joint Pledge for Ocean Accounts and/or optional country UNOC Voluntary Commitment.

How to Join the Pledge

Guide to join the Pledge

Countries and organisations can sign the Pledge:

They are also invited (but not required) to:

Opportunities to Join the Pledge

🗓️ 10 June 2025 | UNOC Side Event (Blue Zone) | Nice, France

Delivering on the 2030 Sustainable Ocean Economy: Pledge to Develop Ocean Accounts by 2030
 Co-hosted by Costa Rica, Portugal, and partners. A forum to showcase leadership, explore new commitments, and build international alliances.

🗓️ 10 June 2025 | Costa Rica Pavilion Workshop (Green Zone) | Nice, France

Accounting for Our Ocean: Tools, Stories, and Commitments
An interactive 3-hour workshop including policy-oriented training, Costa Rica’s roadmap, and live opportunities to sign the Pledge.

Past events

🗓️ 21 May 2025, 13:00 and 22:00 AEST| The Pledge to Advance Ocean Accounts: Preparing for UNOC 3| Virtual Webinar

To discuss the Pledge further, including messages from early signatories and countries with the shared vision, and receive guidance on how to join.

🗓️ 24-27 March 2025 | Ocean Accounts Exchange: Building a Blueprint for Action | San Jose, Costa Rica Completed

Held in San José, Costa Rica, this event brought together over 120 participants from 80+ countries and organisations. It marked the launch of the Joint Pledge and generated strong momentum for global collaboration on ocean accounts. Read more about the event here.

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