Key Highlights:
- First Scientific Committee Meeting on the Sidelines of UNOC 2025: Christian Estrosi, Mayor of Nice, President of the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis, and Deputy President of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region, hosted this pivotal meeting in Nice. This marks a significant step in the preparation for the United Nations Ocean Conference to be held in Nice in June 2025.
- Strong Environmental Commitments by Nice: The city is dedicated to reducing greenhouse gases, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050, with the goal of becoming a Zero Plastic city by 2025.
- Nice, an International Stage for Major Events: Known for its eco-responsible commitment, the city hosts several international business and sporting events, enhancing its global appeal.
Preparation for the “One Ocean Science Congress”
On Wednesday, January 24, 2024, Christian Estrosi welcomed the first working meeting of the scientific committee in preparation for the “One Ocean Science Congress.” This congress will be one of the three special events alongside the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice in June 2025.
The Scientific Committee meeting was prepared by Jean-Pierre Gattuso, Research Director at the National Centre for Scientific Research in Villefranche-sur-Mer, and François Houllier, President and CEO of IFREMER. It was also attended by Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, Ambassador for the Poles and Maritime Issues, Special Envoy of the President of the French Republic for UNOC-3, and Robert Calcagno, Director of the Oceanographic Institute of Monaco.
Environmental Initiatives in Nice
Christian Estrosi highlighted Nice’s efforts in environmental sustainability. Since 2008, the city has embarked on an ambitious trajectory for reducing greenhouse gases, targeting a 26% reduction by 2025 and 55% by 2030, on the path to carbon neutrality by 2050. Christian Estrosi also reiterated Nice’s goal to become a Zero Plastic city by 2025 and mentioned the construction of Haliotis 2, a major European water treatment plant project.
Nice: A Major International Player
Choosing Nice as the host for UNOC 2025 underscores its commitment to marine environment preservation. This international conference, co-organized by France and Costa Rica, aims to protect the ocean as a common good of humanity.
The city has already hosted significant international events, such as the Economic Sea Conferences in 2021, and is preparing to welcome major global sporting events, demonstrating its capacity as a must-visit eco-responsible destination for major international events.
Prominent International Scientific Representation in Nice:
- Janine Adams, Nelson Mandela Univ. (South Africa),
- Diva Amon, SpeSeas (Trinidad and Tobago),
- Tamatoa Bambridge (French Polynesia),
- William Cheung, Univ. British Columbia (Canada),
- Sanae Chiba, PICES (Canada/Japan),
- Carlos Duarte, KAUST (Saudi Arabia),
- Thomas Frölicher, University of Bern (Switzerland),
- Jean-Pierre Gattuso, CNRS, co-chair (France),
- Stefan Gelcich, Pontificia Universidad Católica (Chile),
- Jessica Gephart, American University (USA),
- Kristina Gjerde, IUCN (USA),
- Deborah Greaves, University of Plymouth (UK),
- Peter Haugan, Institute of Marine Research (Norway),
- François Houllier, Ifremer, co-chair (France),
- Daoji Li, China Normal University (China),
- Karen McNamara, Univ. of Queensland (Australia),
- Arthur Tuda, W Indian Ocean Mar. Sci. Ass. (Tanzania)
International News Nice Côte d’Azur
- Air Canada launches a new direct Nice – Toronto route from June 16, 2027, bringing to 3 the direct connections between Nice and Canada
- American Airlines launches a daily Nice-New York JFK flight in summer 2027: Nice Côte d’Azur Airport brings its direct connections to New York to 4
- Team Nice Côte d’Azur welcomes Plug and Play Shenzhen delegation
- Nice Côte d’Azur Airport Connected to New York for the First Time in Winter Thanks to La Compagnie
- The EDHEC Quantum Institute anticipates the next industrial revolution
- Team Nice Côte d’Azur at VivaTech 2026: bringing Nice Côte d’Azur to the heart of innovation markets
- France confirms its position as Europe’s leading destination for foreign investment
- Delta Boston–Nice: direct route inaugurated in May 2026
