Help the New Global Ocean Treaty Enter into Force

The Ocean, situated in the high seas together with the Area, are also referred to as Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ). These areas are part of the global common covering almost half of our planet, providing critical ecosystem services vital for climate regulation in the long term. Scientists consider that only 1.2% of the marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction have been protected to date, which puts the security of our planet at risk. Global Ocean governance needs to be reinforced through new tools and concepts to adapt and ensure higher conservation and sustainable use of the global Ocean currently under conditions of worsening climate change and disruption.

In March 2023, after nearly two decades, an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) was finalized and formally adopted by consensus on 19 June 2023. On 20 September 2023, the BBNJ treaty was opened for signature. Thus far, 83 countries have signed the Agreement. This considerable number of signatories demonstrates international political will to protect the Ocean in areas beyond national jurisdiction as a global common.

Now is the time for action. To concretely conserve and sustainably share the Ocean in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, as well as achieve the goal of protecting 30% of the global Oceans by 2030 (“30 x 30”): the BBNJ Agreement must enter into force as soon as possible. Sixty ratifications are required for the Agreement to enter into force. Ratification will require national legislative measures to effectively implement the provisions of the Agreement. 

An effective BBNJ Agreement, will help to build a more robust international framework for governance that safeguards marine ecosystems; cooperation on biodiversity protection, livelihoods, and food security; capacity-building and transfer of marine technology; fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the utilization of marine genetic resources, the establishment of MPAs and more. 

Therefore, the need for immediate and sustained international cooperation, prioritizing signatory States to the BBNJ Agreement, is critical. Consistent mobilization for ratification is necessary to ensure that entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement is kept high on the international agenda.  

ICDP's BBNJ Informal Dialogues Track 1.5 platform is a mechanism that will: 

• Concretely advance 60+ ratifications and entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement in the lead up to the United Nation Conference for the Ocean (UNOC3) that will take place in June 2025 in France (Nice). 
• Advance progress by Member States and civil society in the preparations needed for the Agreement's entry into force and first Conference of Parties.