United NationsOffice for Outer Space Affairs

Important dates

• Deadline for accreditation

Co-organized by the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs together with the French Space Agency (CNES), the Norwegian Space Agency (NOSA), the Maldives Space Research Organisation (MSRO), the Gouvernement Princier de Monaco, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (IOC UNESCO), and Mercator Ocean International, the high-level side event will present and officially launch the Space4Ocean Alliance.

The Space4Ocean Alliance (S4O), proposed by the French Space Agency, is an action-driven coalition aimed at connecting the space sector with marine and maritime actors to enhance ocean preservation, conservation, and protection efforts. Grounded in science and leveraging space data, in-situ measurements, and advanced digital models, the Alliance addresses critical ocean and coastal challenges, thus contributing to global policy frameworks like the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 14.

The Alliance will pursue the following objectives:

• Strengthen collaboration between the space community and marine, maritime, and other relevant stakeholders to effectively meet needs and priorities for the management of ocean and coastal areas.
• Address observational and operational gaps through innovative space missions and applications.
• Build capacities by promoting best practices, expanding access to observation data, and fostering training initiatives, with a focus on empowering frontline countries such as Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
• Support the development of evidence-based local, regional and global ocean indicators on the state and health of the marine environment, to guide decisions and policies.
• Support and promote the delivery of operational services concerning the most critical ocean issues:
  - Marine biodiversity protection: enhanced monitoring of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to safeguard ecosystems.
  - Climate change impacts: observation and assessment of ocean and coastal responses to climate change, natural disasters, and extreme events.
  - Sustainable blue economy: promotion of sustainable practices in fisheries, aquaculture, maritime energy, and decarbonised shipping.
  - Pollution control: detection and mitigation of marine and coastal pollution.
  - Coastal zone management: development of tools to manage coastal ecosystems under increasing anthropogenic pressures.
  - Maritime security: strengthened surveillance to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing activities.

The Space4Ocean Alliance provides an international platform for coordinated action, integrating space technology with ocean science to deliver impactful and sustainable solutions for the future. The third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) constitutes a key momentum to introduce the Alliance and its objectives.

The side event will follow the signing event that was held on 9 June 2025 in Nice where 26 entities signed the Declaration of Interest: Space Office of the Principality of Monaco, International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC/UNESCO), Brazilian Space Agency (AEB), Gabonese Agency for Space Studies and Observations (AGEOS), Senegalese Space Study Agency (ASES), Italian Space Agency (ASI), Canadian Space Agency (CSA), Mediterranean Science Commission (CIESM), French Space Agency (CNES), French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), Chinese Space Agency (CNSA), National Space Activities Commission of Argentina (CONAE), Research and Study Center of Djibouti (CERD), European Space Agency (ESA), Hellenic Space Center (HSC), IFREMER, French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD), Kenya Space Agency (KSA), Mercator Ocean, Maldives Space Research Organisation (MSRO), Norway Space Agency (NOSA), ORRC, Portugal Space Agency (PSA), UK Space Agency (UKSA).

The side event will officially launch the Alliance with the handover of the signed Declaration of Interest to the UN Special Envoy for the Ocean, Mr Peter Thomson.

Programme (timezone: CEST)

The overall programme of UNOC3 can be found here.

Master of ceremony: Aarti Holla-Maini, Director, UN Office for Outer Space Affairs

DOWNLOADS

Concept note of the Space4Ocean Alliance

Declaration of Interest

Flyer of the event

DATE AND VENUE

The side event will take place on 13 June 2025 from 12:15 to 13:30, in Room 4, within the Blue Zone of the United Nations Ocean Conference, Quai Amiral Infernet, 06300, Nice, France.

ACCREDITATION TO THE BLUE ZONE

All information about accreditation and registration can be found on the dedicated webpage on the UNOC website .
UNOOSA is not responsible for accrediation to the Blue Zone. Any question regarding accreditation to the Blue Zone must be addressed to UN DESA via unoc2025@un.org.

REGISTRATION

Pre-registration in New York: April (TBC) to 16 May 2025

Online onsite registration in Nice: 4 June (TBC) to 12 June (till 1pm CEST)

All UNOC3 participants with access to the Blue Zone are welcome to join the event.

EXPECTED PARTICIPANTS

The side event will gather high-level participants of the diplomatic community, intergovernmental organisations, and research and development institutions from the maritime and space communities.

Practical information for in-person attendance

> UNOC VENUE

The side event will take place in the Blue Zone of the UNOC Conference, Quai Amiral Infernet, 06300, Nice, France.

Please refer to the host country website for logistical information, including accommodation in Nice.

Language

The working language of the side event is English.

Health insurance

Health insurance for each of the selected participants attending in person is necessary and is the responsibility of the participant or his/her institution or government. UNOOSA will not assume any responsibility for life and health insurance, nor for expenses related to medical treatment or accidents.

Contact

For additional information, please contact unoosa-events@un.org.

handover of the signed Declaration of Interest to Peter Thomson