Let's Be Nice to the Ocean

Let’s Be Nice to the Ocean aims to make ocean protection the norm and not the exception. We advocate for the Protection Principle, shifting the burden of proof from ocean defenders to those pursuing extractive or polluting activities in the ocean. The upcoming Third United Nations Ocean Conference (Nice, France, June 2025) represents a key platform to present this proposal to global leaders, surpassing the Precautionary Principle established at the 1992 Rio Summit. The initiative has grown to include 110 associated stakeholders as of June 2025, working collectively to advance ocean protection. The French and Costa Rican co-presidency of the 2025 UN Ocean Conference has tasked The Varda Group and the Ocean & Climate Platform with co-facilitating civil society input and participation. This participatory and inclusive process welcomes all ocean voices—visit www.letsbenicetotheocean.org/movement to join us and actively contribute to shaping action at the forthcoming conference. Let’s Be Nice to the Ocean is coordinated by The Varda Group in cooperation with the Ocean & Climate Platform, and in partnership with TBA21-Academy, Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy, Tara Ocean Foundation, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, and MedPAN.