The 80th session of the UN General Assembly has just wrapped up in New York. In its 80th year and under the banner “Better Together,” leaders faced an agenda dominated by wars in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan, food insecurity, economic instability, and accelerating climate disruption. But over the course of the week, the ocean also found its voice threaded through speeches, side events, media coverage, and online conversations.
What emerged from the week
Survival
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) repeatedly framed the ocean as an existential issue. Leaders from Indonesia, Liberia, Belize and others spoke of rising seas eroding coastlines and reshaping communities, reframing the ocean not as scenery, but as the frontline of the climate crisis.
Governance
The High Seas Treaty (BBNJ Agreement) became a rallying point. With 74 ratifications now secured, it will enter into force in January 2026. France, Portugal, Chile, Vietnam, and Singapore highlighted the Treaty and UNCLOS as evidence of countries working together under agreed international rules, even as global cooperation is under strain.
Finance and equity
Finance was the red thread running through UNGA80 from the Loss and Damage Fund to the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and blue economy commitments. The Ocean Panel set out a new 5-year workplan to 2030 to help close the $550 billion ocean finance gap, while São Tomé and Príncipe used its General Debate statement to reaffirm blue economy leadership, linking marine protection to sustainable development. Across the week, SIDS and coastal states pressed for debt relief, predictable funding, and fairer access, reminding delegates that climate finance is the bridge between ambition and action.
Ocean Pioneers
The Ocean Pioneers Coalition was launched on 22 September during UNGA High-Level Week, co-led by Tuvalu, France, and Panama. It brings together champion countries committed to safeguarding the ocean, with a shared determination to build resilience and protect the marine environment for generations to come. In their statements, members framed the coalition as both a platform for cooperation and a pledge that no nation or community should be left behind in securing the future of the ocean. It also unites countries that have ratified the High Seas Treaty, with members committing to champion its swift implementation and voicing support for a precautionary pause on deep-sea mining.
Deep-sea mining
While only a handful of leaders addressed deep-sea mining directly, those who did generally emphasised precautionary approaches or a moratorium. Nauru stood apart in making the case for deep-sea mining, offering a different perspective from the broader emphasis on caution.
Culture and advocacy
Ocean voices at UNGA80 weren’t confined to political speeches. On 22 September, the High Seas Alliance partnered with performer EM The Master to bring DIVE, a theatrical, musical celebration of the ocean, to New York Climate Week. Blending art, comedy, storytelling, and activism, the performance marked the momentum of the High Seas Treaty’s ratifications while reminding audiences of the ocean’s wonder and fragility. Events like this underscore that building awareness and commitment to ocean protection happens not only in negotiations, but also through culture, creativity, and storytelling.
 EM The Master – DIVE, NYC – Photo Credit: Tallulah Halford |  |
The High Seas Treaty milestone
If one moment captured global attention, it was the high-level event “Nice to New York: Activating the High Seas Treaty!” on 23 September. Just days after the 60th ratification triggered the Treaty’s entry into force countdown, world leaders, from President Macron to President Boric, joined Sigourney Weaver, ministers, and civil society voices to celebrate the milestone and call for swift implementation.
Media and online coverage amplified the Treaty as proof that multilateralism can still deliver. But the message was clear: ratification is just the beginning. The focus must now shift from signatures on paper to action on the water.
“Ratification is an event. Implementation is a story, one that will require sustained attention, tangible milestones, and proof of delivery to maintain credibility.” Sophie Hulme, Co-founder and Director of Communications INC
Communications INC was proud to be behind the scenes in New York, supporting partners to ensure this moment resonated, not just as a celebration, but the start of a new phase for global ocean governance.
 Kathryn Francis and Sophie Hulme behind the scenes at the high-level event “Nice to New York: Activating the High Seas Treaty!” |  Photo Credit: Campbell Brewer |
Better Together
The UN’s 80th anniversary theme, “Better Together,” feels fitting. Keeping the ocean visible in New York was the cumulative effect of aligned voices, coordinated campaigns, and behind-the-scenes communications.
At Communications INC, we are proud to have worked with the High Seas Alliance and its many committed members since its foundation, and to have supported the High Seas Alliance, NRDC, and Nature4Climate in New York this week. The task now is to ensure the ocean remains recognised not just as part of the global story, but as central to global solutions.
As General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock reminded delegates in her closing remarks: “…let us be inspired by the legacy of our past and daring for a better future that is Better Together, UNafraid, UNbroken, UNited.”