Green Marine Europe at UNOC 3 : key highlights for a more sustainable maritime sector

On June 10 and 11, 2025, Green Marine Europe took part in several key moments of the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC), held in Nice. This edition, marked by the growing mobilisation of public and private stakeholders, helped advance discussions on the levers of transformation in the maritime transport sector, focusing on greater sustainability, inclusiveness, and ambition.

Present at the Palais des Expositions – The Whale, between the "Protect, Explore, Decarbonise" Pavilion (GICAN, Amrateurs de France, CMA CGM), and the Base Ocean Camp, the Green Marine Europe team contributed to multiple high-level events addressing critical aspects of the maritime transition. Here’s a look back at four key highlights.

Financing maritime decarbonisation: a collective challenge to overcome

During the roundtable “Modelling Tools & Projects: Financing Net Zero” organised by MEET2050, our General Manager, Antidia Citores, emphasised a key message: the success of the maritime energy transition hinges on the ability to build credible and bankable decarbonisation pathways.

She highlighted that the Green Marine Europe certification is not solely focused on emissions reduction. It is part of a broader, structured, and measurable transformation designed to align with shipowners' operational realities and investors' expectations.

The discussion also highlighted the main barriers to progress: technological uncertainty, the lack of viable business models, regulatory fragmentation, and insufficient access to appropriate financial tools. These challenges make scaling up decarbonisation initiatives difficult.

In this context, modelling tools — such as NavigaTE, developed by the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping — are proving to be strategic assets. They offer valuable data for developing realistic transition scenarios. However, even the best modelling tools are not enough: without targeted financial instruments (such as contracts for difference, guarantees, or ETS revenues), attracting the necessary investments remains a significant hurdle.

This is where Eurazeo plays a crucial role, bridging finance, technological innovation, and public policy. Through a systemic approach, Eurazeo helps identify concrete levers to structure credible and bankable projects by mobilising the right tools at the right time — a vision we fully share at Green Marine Europe.

The Green Marine Europe certification is a lever for action, moving from voluntary commitment to certified pathways aligned with European frameworks. It reflects our ambition to reconcile expertise and regulation to accelerate the transition.

Underwater noise reduction: a rsing priority

Antidia Citores also participated as moderator and contributor in a workshop focused on reducing underwater noise generated by maritime traffic. Organised by the French Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs, the Belgian Ministry of Environment, Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore, and IFAW, the session brought together scientific, technical, and operational expertise.

Notably, Canada, Belgium, and South Africa shared their national commitments on this issue during UNOC, highlighting the growing importance of underwater noise in international maritime policies.

For a more sustainable and inclusive maritime sector: women leading the way

Green Marine Europe also participated in the roundtable “Innovating for a Sustainable Maritime Future,” hosted by WISTA France with support from the GICAN. Five women with strong and inspiring professional backgrounds shared their visions for a more sustainable, equitable, and inclusive maritime sector.

Among them was Pasquine Albertini, representing Green Marine Europe, who reminded the audience that maritime transformation also requires greater gender diversity, stronger recognition of women’s expertise, and a spirit of sisterhood across the industry.

“Cards on the table”: honest dialogue on the Ocean-climate nexus

Finally, Antidia joined the side-event “Cards on the Table”, co-organised by the Ocean & Climate Platform and the Pulitzer Centre. This bold and original format encouraged open dialogue on the blind spots of the ocean-climate nexus — governance gaps, scientific uncertainties, and the limitations of current solutions.

Rather than seeking consensus, this event promoted transparency as a foundation for building more grounded and ambitious collaborations.

At Green Marine Europe, we remain convinced that the maritime transition must be built at the crossroads of expertise, field realities, and deep convictions. UNOC 3 once again demonstrated the strength of collective engagement in facing ocean and climate challenges.