How commitments are recorded
UN voluntary commitments explained
Short answer
- Ocean commitments listed
- 2,666, as read in November 2026 1
- Registered around the 2017 Ocean Conference
- 1,406 3
- Registered for the 2022 Ocean Conference
- 741, from 17 December 2021 to 6 November 2023 3
- Third Ocean Conference
- Nice, France, 9 to 13 June 2025, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica 2
- SDG Acceleration Actions listed
- 456, as read in November 2026 4
What a voluntary commitment is
A voluntary commitment is a pledge an organisation records on a UN platform, usually linked to a UN conference or to the Sustainable Development Goals. The Ocean Conference page invites visitors to register a commitment and lets users filter entries by ocean basin, theme, SDG and type of entity, such as government, NGO or private sector 1.
The UN DESA analysis says commitments should be designed in accordance with SMART criteria 3. It found that commitments came from 225 countries and 532 distinct lead organisations 3. Governments made the most commitments, followed by NGOs and intergovernmental organisations, according to the analysis 3.
Where the commitments are recorded
The Ocean Conference had its own Registry of Voluntary Commitments. That page now says the ocean commitments have been migrated to the SDG Knowledge Platform and redirects users there 5. The new page carries the 2025 conference details and a register link 1.
The UN 2025 Ocean Conference took place in Nice, France, from 9 to 13 June 2025, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica 2. Its theme was accelerating action and mobilising all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean 2. The conference page links to a DESA assessment of voluntary commitments 2.
| Platform | What it records | Count shown when read |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean Commitments, SDG Knowledge Platform 1 | Commitments linked to the UN Ocean Conferences 1 | 2,666 1 |
| SDG Acceleration Actions 4 | Actions to advance the SDGs, open for online registration 4 | 456 4 |
| The Ocean Conference registry 5 | Former registry, now redirecting to the SDG Knowledge Platform 5 | Not shown 5 |
SDG Acceleration Actions
The SDG Acceleration Actions database describes itself as a tool to help inspire and mobilise actions around the world to advance the SDGs 4. It says registration is open online, and its filters include governments, NGOs, academic institutions and the private sector 4. It frames the actions as part of building resilience and an inclusive recovery from COVID-19 4. The page read for this guide did not state a reporting rule 4.
What follow-up shows
UN DESA published an analysis, written by a consultant, of the commitments registered at or around the second UN Ocean Conference 3. The document says the views are the author's and not necessarily those of the UN 3.
The analysis says 90 per cent of the commitments it reviewed were marked incomplete 3. Of all the commitments reviewed, 7 per cent were completed, 2 per cent were on track and 1 per cent were cancelled 3. It puts the reporting rate in 2020 at about 24 per cent 3. It says the falling reporting rate makes it hard to judge whether commitments met their goals and calls for a more rigorous follow-up process 3. It notes that only about one third of commitments stated a funding amount 3.
How this differs from a treaty commitment
A voluntary commitment rests on the pledge itself. A nationally determined contribution under the Paris Agreement is different. Article 4.2 says each party shall prepare, communicate and maintain successive NDCs, and Article 4.12 says they shall be recorded in a public registry kept by the secretariat 6. Article 4.9 sets a five-year cycle 6. The Ocean and SDG platforms read for this page set no such cycle 1,4.
Common questions
Who can register a UN voluntary commitment?
The Ocean Commitments page lists governments, NGOs, the private sector and other entity types among those with registered commitments 1.
How many ocean commitments are there?
The SDG Knowledge Platform listed 2,666 ocean commitments when read in November 2026 1.
Do voluntary commitments get checked?
A UN DESA analysis found 90 per cent of the commitments it reviewed were marked incomplete and called for more rigorous follow-up 3.
Where did the old Ocean Conference registry go?
It was migrated to the SDG Knowledge Platform 5.
Are voluntary commitments binding like NDCs?
No treaty text applies to them. NDCs are required under Article 4 of the Paris Agreement 6.
Rules and charges change. Check the official source linked on this page before you pay or travel. Spotted an error? Email hello@statementsofrecord.com.
Sources
- UN SDG Knowledge Platform: Ocean Commitments
- UN DESA: UN 2025 Ocean Conference
- UN DESA: Analysis of the voluntary commitments registered at or around the second United Nations Ocean Conference, including their impacts (2025)
- UN SDG Knowledge Platform: SDG Acceleration Actions
- The Ocean Conference: Registry of Voluntary Commitments
- UNFCCC: Paris Agreement (2015)
Related
- How public commitments are recorded
Where public commitments are officially recorded: parliamentary assurances, written statements, NDC and UN registries, OGP plans and company filings.
- Official commitment trackers compared
How India's OAMS, Kenya's and Ghana's committees, the NDC Registry, UN commitment platforms and OGP's reporting mechanism track delivery of promises.
- Nationally determined contributions: how they are recorded and revised
What the Paris Agreement says about NDCs, the five-year cycle, the public registry, adjusting a target and what happens when a party withdraws.