The third United Nations Ocean Conference opens Monday amid rising pressure for nations to turn decades of promises into real protection for the sea.

The weeklong summit comes as just 2.7% of the ocean is effectively protected from destructive extractive activities, according to ocean advocacy nonprofit Marine Conservation Institute.

That's far below the target agreed under the global “30x30” pledge to conserve 30% of land and sea by 2030.

Atop this year’s agenda is a diplomatic race to ratify the High Seas Treaty.

Adopted in 2023, the treaty would for the first time allow nations to establish marine protected areas in international waters, which cover nearly two-thirds of the ocean and are largely ungoverned.

The ocean is critical in stabilizing Earth’s climate and sustaining life.

It generates 50% of the oxygen we breathe, absorbs around 30% of carbon dioxide emissions and captures more than 90% of the excess heat caused by those emissions.

Without a healthy ocean, experts warn, climate goals will remain out of reach.

The treaty will only come into force once 60 countries ratify it. As of June 8, just 32 countries had.

Advocates hope UNOC can build enough momentum to cross the threshold, which would allow for the first official Oceans Conference of Parties.