GENEVA - UN experts* today welcomed the ratification of the Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), which is set to enter into force in January 2026.
"We all depend on a healthy ocean. The ratification of this agreement marks a historic step for the protection of the high seas and the deep seabed. Marine life and a safe climate are essential to our right to a healthy environment," the experts said.
The BBNJ Agreement will enable States to protect and use marine biodiversity sustainably, while also promoting responsible scientific cooperation. The agreement embeds the precautionary principle and rights-based obligations. It also requires all planned activities in areas beyond national jurisdiction to undergo environmental impact assessments to identify and prevent potential risks to marine life. This includes risks arising from the impact of climate change and ocean acidification, while also protecting Indigenous Peoples'rights.
"We reiterate the importance of the BBNJ Agreement in proving that multilateralism works, and in ensuring a human rights-based approach to ocean conservation, as well as in protecting everyone's human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment," the experts said.
The Special Rapporteur on the right to a healthy environment and the Human Rights Council emphasised the significance of the BBNJ Agreement for the conservation of the oceans and the importance of its entry into force
"As we celebrate the leadership and commitment of the 69 States that have so far ratified the BBNJ Agreement, we recognise the incredible efforts of organisations, scientists and entities that made this agreement a reality," the experts said. "Their actions reaffirm the importance of international cooperation and multilateralism in safeguarding the high seas and the deep seabed for the benefit of present and future generations."
The experts also welcomed the entry into force of the World Trade Organization's Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, describing it as a significant step forward in global ocean governance. "This new agreement is a powerful tool for protecting fisheries and halting harmful subsidies that are driving marine ecosystems to the verge of collapse," they said.
"The priority now is to ensure the effective implementation of these agreements to safeguard the ocean and its contributions to our planet's life-support systems, including the climate and human rights," the experts said.
