UN biodiversity treaty enters into force, aims to protect 30% of oceans by 2030
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Under the treaty, countries must conduct environmental assessments of activities that have an impact on ocean ecology.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: UNSPLASH
SINGAPORE – A landmark global treaty to safeguard biodiversity in the high seas came into effect on Jan 17, providing countries with a legally binding framework to tackle threats such as overfishing and meet a target to protect 30 per cent of the ocean environment by 2030.
The UN treaty, known as Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ)
“It is two-thirds of the ocean, (and) it is half the surface of the planet that – for the first time – will have a comprehensive legal regime,” said Mr Adam McCarthy, first assistant secretary at the Australian Foreign Ministry and a co-chair of the treaty’s preparatory committee, speaking at a media briefing.
The treaty reached the threshold of 60 national ratifications on Sept 19, meaning that it would go formally into operation within 120 days. The number of ratifications has since risen to more than 80, with China, Brazil and Japan adding their names to the list.
Others, including Britain and Australia, are expected to follow soon. The US signed the treaty during the previous administration, but has not yet ratified it.
“While we needed only 60 for it to enter into force, obviously it is really critical for its implementation and for it to be as effective as possible for us to achieve global or universal ratification of the treaty,” said Ms Rebecca Hubbard, director of High Seas Alliance, a coalition of environmental groups.
She added: “We are really aiming for all UN member states to ratify the treaty.”
Under the treaty, countries must conduct environmental assessments of activities that have an impact on ocean ecology. The treaty will also create mechanisms allowing nations to share the spoils of the “blue economy”, including “marine genetic resources” used in industries such as biotechnology.
Environmentalists say over 190,000 protected areas would need to be established in order to meet the “30 by 30” target to bring 30 per cent of the oceans under formal protection by 2030. Currently, only about 8 per cent – or 29 million sq km – is protected.
But the treaty will have little impact on what some conservationists identify as one of the greatest threats facing the marine environment – the clamour to extract mineral resources from the ocean bed.
Mr McCarthy said: “BBNJ is very ambitious, but there are certain defined limits. The question of mining in the substrate or in the seabed simply belongs to the International Seabed Authority. It is not something where the BBNJ gets a role.” REUTERS
