(Photo: UNOC)

Host France is expecting 70 heads of government, including Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. The conference will also draw business leaders, donors, and environmental activists.

Ahead of the main event, a scientific workshop will be held, attended by some 2,000 ocean experts. France has promi sed the summit will do for ocean conservation what the Paris Agreement did for global climate action.

Attendees are expected to adopt a “Nice Declaration” – a statement of support for greater ocean protection, coupled with voluntary additional commitments by individual governments.