Game-changing international ocean treaty comes into force | UN News

An international agreement to protect and sustainably use marine life in international waters and the international seabed, known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, has come into force. This legally binding UN treaty, which covers the ocean zones beyond national waters and the international seabed, marks a major step forward in ensuring the health of ocean ecosystems. The BBNJ is designed to sustainably manage the high seas and international seabed for the benefit of all humanity, with provisions for inclusive ocean governance, including engagement of Indigenous Peoples and local communities and gender balance. The treaty aims to address the 'triple planetary crisis' of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Although some major economies have not yet ratified the treaty, the hope is that more countries will join in the future, making the agreement more effective.