Milestone moments to protect the ocean, ensure online safety and secure financing for a sustainable future

This year, UN DESA is leading milestone events aimed at advancing sustainable development for all. Many of them are lining up this month, bringing together the international community to focus on promoting a healthy ocean, our digital future and unlocking financing to deliver the promise of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Amid busy preparations, UN DESA’s Under-Secretary-General Li Junhua discussed these events and their critical importance for our shared future on a healthy planet.

UN DESA Voice caught up with Mr. Li as the Department is ramping up efforts to support and coordinate the third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3), the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) and the fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) this month. For both the UNOC3 and the FFD4 Conference, Mr. Li is serving as Conference Secretary-General. 

Overlooking the East River from the UN Headquarters, we started our conversation by discussing the current state of the ocean and what difference the UN Ocean Conference intends to make to protect this vital planetary resource.

“The ocean is in a state of emergency”

“The ocean is in a state of emergency,” Mr. Li said, describing an alarming situation where the health of the ocean is threatened by climate change, plastic pollution, ecosystem loss, and overexploitation of marine resources. 

While the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction, also known as the BBNJ Agreement, along with the World Trade Organization Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, have contributed to improvements, Mr. Li noted that “the international community’s response is falling short of the ocean targets outlined in SDG 14.” 

It is against this backdrop, Mr. Li stressed, that the third UN Ocean Conference is taking place, from 9 to 13 June in Nice, France, seeking to boost “urgent, coordinated efforts to reverse the ocean’s decline.”  

Mr. Li described how the Conference will build on the outcomes from the two preceding conferences, feature 10 Action Panels, plenary sessions, special events and hundreds of side-events. “[The Conference] will offer a pivotal moment to change course,” Mr. Li said.

He went on to explain how the event will adopt an action-oriented outcome document, referred to as the "Nice Ocean Action Plan," seeking to unite a broad coalition of actors with the ultimate goal of turning “ambition into action, and secure a healthy, resilient ocean for generations to come”.

Building trust and ensuring that the Internet works for everyone

Following the UN Ocean Conference, we will also mark 20 years of shaping our digital future when the Internet Governance Forum convenes in Lillestroem, Norway, from 23 to 27 June. We spoke with Mr. Li about how we can build trust and ensure that the Internet works for everyone.

“To ensure technologies work for everyone, we must build digital trust and resilience, foster sustainable and responsible innovation, bridge the digital divide and promote universal access and digital rights, and strengthen meaningful digital governance,” Mr. Li said. 

He also underscored the importance of digital governance, while stressing that “building partnerships in the digital world demands inclusive, transparent, and sustained collaboration across all disciplines and sectors.” 

We all know how the Internet plays a crucial role in our daily lives, as well as in development. But as Mr. Li underlined, “challenges like digital divides, cybersecurity, and misinformation persist.” He also explained that this year’s IGF will contribute to the UN General Assembly’s WSIS+20 review, which will evaluate past advancements made since the World Summit on the Information Society. 

“IGF 2025 is not just a milestone — it is a decisive opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to an open, resilient, and inclusive Internet, and to ensure digital technologies are governed in ways that serve all humanity,” Mr. Li emphasized.

Unlocking financing to help deliver the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

After the IGF, world leaders will gather in Sevilla, Spain, for the fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4), taking place from 30 June to 3 July. We discussed with Mr. Li what actions and outcomes he hopes to see as a result of this milestone event. 

“[The Conference] convenes during a challenging moment: aid levels are plunging, falling by seven per cent last year, and very likely falling even more dramatically this year; trade barriers are rising rapidly; and geopolitical uncertainty is high,” Mr. Li explained. 

He continued, cautioning that “these shocks exacerbate an already off-track SDG financing gap, estimated at four trillion US dollars annually. We are now actually in a sustainable development crisis.” 

Delivering an ambitious global financing framework in Sevilla will therefore be of critical importance this summer.

“Bold actions at FFD4 are essential to turn the corner on SDG financing and send a strong signal to the world that multilateralism can still deliver, and that we can still solve global problems through collective resolve and solidarity,” Mr. Li said. He also explained that there are two key avenues to close the financing gap, which are also highlighted in the draft outcome document, currently being negotiated by UN Member States.

“First, a large-scale impact-focused SDG investment push, led by public development banks, and leveraging private investment for impact; and second, ambitious reform of the international financial architecture to be more inclusive, effective, and fit for purpose for today’s challenges,” Mr. Li said. 

As we wrapped up, Mr. Li shared the following message with UN DESA’s audiences: “Please join us and follow us at all these upcoming events as we work together towards a sustainable and prosperous future for everyone, for every country.” 

To get a personal and a behind-the-scenes take of these and other major upcoming events, join and follow Mr. Li on his newly launched LinkedIn platform here.

For more information:

Third UN Ocean Conference (9-13 June 2025)

Internet Governance Forum (23-27 June 2025)

Forth International Conference on Financing for Development (30 June – 3 July 2025)