The ‘Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction' (BBNJ) treaty or ‘Treaty for the High Seas’ has been signed by the European Union in the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York. In addition to the EU as organisation, many countries signed the treaty.
What is it about?
Together with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) - which provides the legal framework for all activities in the oceans - and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework - which commits to protecting at least 30% of the oceans by 2030 - it is a critical component of global efforts to protect marine areas on a global scale.
After more than a decade of multilateral work, the signing of the Agreement is a significant milestone for improved ocean governance towards a healthy ocean.
