Biological diversity in areas Beyond National Jurisdiction(BBNJ) Treaty: 20 years of talks later, half the Earth’s surface area to have binding environment treaty

What is the News?

The meeting of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC-4) was held in New York to conclude a draft of the instrument on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas Beyond National Jurisdiction(BBNJ).

Note: The IGC-4 is convened under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

What is Biological diversity in areas Beyond National Jurisdiction(BBNJ) Treaty?

The BBNJ Treaty also known as the “Treaty of the High Seas”, is an international agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction currently under negotiation at the United Nations.

This treaty is being developed within the framework of the UNCLOS, the main international agreement governing human activities at sea.

The treaty will cover the high seas beyond the exclusive economic zones or national waters of countries.

The negotiations under the treaty are centred around a package of elements namely:

– the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, in particular, together and as a whole, marine genetic resources, including questions on the sharing of benefits

– area-based management tools, including marine protected areas

– environmental impact assessments

– capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology

What is the need for the BBNJ Treaty?

High Seas encompass all areas that lie beyond national waters – specifically, they are outside the exclusive economic zone of any country.

According to the IUCN, high seas areas account for almost half of the Earth’s surface.

However, the high seas areas are largely unexplored, vastly deep and filled with marine life. At the same time, they are under increasing threat from overfishing, mining, climate change, and pollution. 

There is a lack of clear rules, persisting governance gaps and a lack of effective enforcement in the high seas, so only around 1% are currently protected. 

What is the High Seas Alliance?

High Seas Alliance was founded in 2011. It is a partnership of organizations and groups aimed at building a strong common voice and constituency for the conservation of the high seas. 

The Alliance is currently made up of 40+ NGOs plus the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Source: This post is based on an article “20 years of talks later, half the Earth’s surface area to have binding environment treaty” published in Down To Earth on 23rd March 2022