New UN treaty set to take effect for marine life protection

UN Treaty Enters into Force, Protecting 10 Million Species

A landmark United Nations treaty aimed at protecting marine diversity in international waters has entered into force, following the ratification of 148 countries representing over three-quarters of all UN member states. The High Seas Treaty, officially known as the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), offers new protections to an area covering two-thirds of the world’s oceans.

The treaty was adopted in June 2023 and is expected to provide significant benefits to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity. The agreement sets binding rules for conserving and sustainably using marine biodiversity, sharing benefits more fairly, creating protected areas, and advancing science and capacity-building.

Countries that have fully ratified the treaty include island nations such as Palau, Cuba, and the Maldives, as well as major economies like China, Germany, Japan, France, and Brazil. The United States has signed on to the agreement but has yet to ratify it. Other countries, including India, the United Kingdom, and Russia, have also signed but not ratified.

The treaty aims to address threats such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution in international waters. According to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the treaty is a “lifeline for the ocean and humanity”. The High Seas Alliance, a non-governmental organization supporting the treaty, has welcomed the agreement, stating that it offers a means to protect an “extraordinary part of our planet”.

The treaty’s entry into force marks an important milestone in the conservation of marine biodiversity.

Source: Al Jazeera