9 June 2025

Faith Communities Issue Largest Multi-Faith Declaration to Protect the Ocean at UNOC3

Nice, France—Faith communities representing tens of millions of people globally issued the largest multi-faith ocean declaration to date. Signed by over 55 faith-based institutions and conservation organizations, the landmark declaration unites religious traditions from around the world in a shared moral commitment to safeguard the ocean’s integrity and spiritual significance.

Released at the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, France, today, Turning the Tide: A Muti-faith Declaration for the Ocean calls for urgent action to protect the ocean in the face of unprecedented pressure from climate change, industrial fishing, and pollution. Its wide-ranging signatories include the Anglican Communion, Baha'i International Community UN Office, Soka Gakkai International, Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences, the Laudato Si Movement, Repair the Sea – Tikkun HaYam, and the United Religions Initiative, among others. The full list of signatories is available here.  

Said Gopal Patel, Policy Lead for Faiths for UNOC3:

“This declaration is both a commitment to action from faith-based organizations and a strong signal to world leaders from the hundreds of millions of people they represent. We are responding to a moral and spiritual imperative. Humanity's relationship with the ocean is broken and must be restored. We need to see real action at the UN Ocean Conference to protect the ocean and the communities that depend on it for their health and livelihoods."

The declaration’s development was organized by Faiths for UNOC3 and completed through a collaborative process involving representatives from diverse faith traditions and organizations, marine conservation experts, and policy specialists. Organizations are encouraged to continue signing the declaration beyond its launch. UNOC3 represents a unique opportunity for faith-based organizations not only to participate in a global moment, but to make lasting commitments to ocean protection that extend well beyond the conference in Nice.

Said Martha Jarvis, Permanent Representative to the UN for the Anglican Communion and a member of the drafting team: 

“It’s easy to focus our environmental advocacy around the land. But this neglects two-thirds of our incredible planet, God’s wonderful creation - the lungs of our earth, from which we all benefit. So many communities around the world who draw their life and strength from the ocean see the urgency of action to protect and restore this creation. We follow their creative navigation of existential threats as we commit to reduce climate change and biodiversity loss.”

The declaration draws on the wisdom of diverse spiritual traditions to affirm the ocean as both an ecological and sacred teacher, one that sustains life, regulates climate, and holds deep spiritual meaning. The declaration joins other sectors of civil society in calling for important protective measures, including protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030, supporting a moratorium on deep-sea mining, ratifying the High Seas Treaty, addressing marine pollution, and advancing ocean-based climate solutions. It also seeks to center the leadership of Indigenous Peoples, small-scale fishers, and coastal communities, grounding its vision in justice, equity, and the interconnectedness of all life.

As the world confronts escalating ecological crises, faith communities are stepping forward with a unified voice to affirm that care for the ocean is not only an environmental necessity, but a spiritual responsibility. This declaration is both a moral compass and a collective call to action—inviting all people of faith and goodwill to join in protecting the sacred waters that sustain our planet, our cultures, and our shared future.

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NOTES TO EDITORS:

Contact: Wesley Cocozello (wesleycocozello@gmail.com) 

Faith-based institutions and conservation organizations that have signed on to the declaration for launch include:

  • 3BL Associates

  • ADPT Bangladesh 

  • Aham Brahmasmi

  • Anglican Communion

  • Baha’i International Community

  • Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University

  • Buddhist Tzu Foundation 

  • Catholic Youth Network for Environmental Sustainability in Africa (CYNESA)

  • Center for Earth Ethics

  • Centre for Interreligious Dialogue

  • Commission for Inter-Religious Dialogue and Ecumenism – Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops

  • Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace

  • Council for the New Global South

  • ecomasjid

  • Environmental Science for Social Change (ESSC)

  • Faith For Our Planet FFOP

  • Faith for the Climate

  • Franciscans International

  • Global Alliance for Ecosystem Restoration (GAFER)

  • Global One 2015

  • Go Dharmic 

  • Govardhan Ecovillage

  • Green Anglicans

  • GreenFaith Africa

  • GreenFaith Indonesia 

  • Health4peace

  • Heartfulness

  • High Seas Alliance

  • Iglesia Metodista del Perú – Pueblo Libre

  • Inayatiyya Global

  • Institute of the Sisters of Mercy Integral Ecology Advisory Group

  • Integral Ecology Committee, Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New GuineaSisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea

  • Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development

  • International Environment Forum

  • International Society for Krishna Consciousness

  • Islamic foundation for ecology and environmental sciences

  • JS1

  • L'Arbre de l'Eveil 

  • Laudato Si' Movement

  • Malaysia Peaceful Environment Organisation – GRASS

  • Milstein Center for Interreligious Dialogue, JTS

  • Missionary Society of St Columban

  • Muslim Charities Forum

  • Pagan Federation International Foundation 

  • Partnerships for Future Generations in Kenya

  • Repair the Sea – Tikkun HaYam

  • Sikhs in Scotland

  • Sisters of Mercy

  • Soka Gakkai International

  • Springtideopus

  • Temple of Ara

  • Lady Fatemah Trust – (A.S) Charitable Trust

  • The Parliament of the World's Religions

  • United Religions Initiative (URI)

  • World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) 

  • World Wildlife Fund