The Ocean of Possibilities project was conducted between 2023 and 2025 by the Ocean & Climate Platform (OCP), together with the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and Friends of Ocean Action (FOA), and with the support of Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy. Developed as part of the OCP’s mandate to mobilise, consult and amplify the voices of civil society in preparation for the third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC 3), the project aimed to develop a collective vision from civil society of a sustainable and regenerative ocean future.
Grounded in a “visioning” methodology—a scientific approach designed to collectively imagine desirable futures and identify concrete pathways to realise them—the project engaged diverse civil society members through global consultations, workshops, and interviews. The project led to the development of five distinct visions of a desirable future for the ocean, with concrete actions to achieve them.
Three key messages emerge from these scenarios:
- An ocean of possibilities: There is no single desirable future for the ocean, but many
possible ones. Despite these differences, there are common actions, such as
strengthening ocean protection, decarbonisation, and ocean literacy, that must be
prioritised to unlock transformative change. - A role for all: Change can happen through both incremental and radical actions, which
should be led by clearly defined actors. Responsibility is shared across actors and
scales, and every contribution matters in shaping a just and regenerative ocean future. - A united ocean community: The ocean community is united around shared principles:
justice, knowledge, accountability, care for the ocean, and solidarity. Ocean action is a
catalyst for positive change across sectors as it enables broader societal benefits like
equity, peace, and sustainable development.
The results were shared at the third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC 3) in Nice. A collective call for action was published: https://sdg.iisd.org/commentary/guest-articles/our-blue-future-a-call-for-action-from-the-ocean-community/
The scenarios were made in: 2025
The scenarios look out to: 2100-2500
