BBNJ TREATY (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: The Blue Leaders High-Level Event on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction was recently held in Belgium, aiming to encourage nations to ratify a new treaty aimed at safeguarding the high seas from pollution, climate change, and overfishing.

BBNJ Treaty

• About: It also known as the Treaty of the High Seas, aims to address the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond national jurisdiction.
• Adopted: 19 June 2023.
• Signatories: More than 70 nations including nine ACAP Parties have signed the Agreement.
• Ratified: So far, 88 countries are signatories to the treaty. Only two Chile and Palau have ratified it so far. The BBNJ will “enter into force” when at least 60 countries ratify it.
• Framework of the UNCLOS: The treaty is developed within the framework of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the primary international agreement governing activities at sea.
• Holistic Management Approach: It intends to establish a more holistic management system for high seas activities, emphasizing the balance between conservation and sustainable use of marine resources.
• Scope: BBNJ encompasses areas beyond exclusive economic zones or national waters, covering almost half of the Earth's surface according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
• Regulation: These areas are largely unregulated and least understood in terms of biodiversity, with only 1% currently under protection.
• High Ambition Coalition: Launched at the One Ocean Summit in February 2022, the High Ambition Coalition on BBNJ aims to unite delegations for ambitious outcomes in the negotiations.
• Key Elements of Negotiation: The negotiations focus on elements agreed upon in 2015, including the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity, area-based management tools, environmental impact assessments, and capacity-building.