Image Credit: REUTERS
Context
The United Nations Oceans Conference (UNOC), held in France, concluded with 56 out of the desired 60 countries ratifying the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement, also referred to as the High Seas Treaty.
Key Highlights
- The third edition of UNOC (2025) centered on accelerating international action to defend oceans, especially international waters beyond national boundaries.
- It was co-hosted by France and Costa Rica.
- Theme – “Accelerating movement and mobilizing all actors to preserve and sustainably use the sea”.
- The Conference sought to aid the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG14 – Life Below Water), with three main priorities, to produce an ambitious Nice Ocean Action Plan:
- Priority 1: Working closer to crowning glory of multilateral tactics related to the sea
- Priority 2: Mobilizing finance sources for the SDG14 and supporting the development of a sustainable blue economy
- Priority 3: Strengthen and more disseminate information linked to marine sciences to enhance policy-making
Link to Global Biodiversity Goals
- The conference supports the Convention on Biological Diversity, which targets protecting 30% of marine and coastal areas with the aid of 2030.
- UNOC makes a speciality of imposing this by pushing nations to ratify the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) treaty.
Treaty Ratification Status
- Though 160 nations have signed the BBNJ Treaty (High Seas Treaty), only 56 have ratified it to date.
- The treaty calls for 60 ratifications to start a 120-day countdown before it becomes legally binding.
Treaty Objectives
- Once enforced, the BBNJ treaty will:
- Create marine covered regions past national jurisdiction.
- Mandate environmental impact tests for high-seas activities.
- Regulate access to marine genetic resources.
- Provide potential-building support for developing nations.
Key Hurdles to the BBNJ Treaty
- Disputes Over Benefit Sharing: The maximum contentious issue is how to share industrial benefits from marine genetic resources observed within the high seas.
- Lack of Consensus on Extraction: While extracting distinguished marine lifestyles is technically hard, there’s no clear global agreement on regulating such activities.
- Risk to Ocean Ecosystems: Critics warn that continued or unregulated extraction poses a critical risk to ocean health and biodiversity, defeating the treaty’s purpose.
Key Achievements of the United Nations Oceans Conference (UNOC)
- Major Financial Commitments
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- The European Commission pledged €1 billion for ocean conservation, sustainable fishing, and marine technology.
- Germany introduced a €100 million programme to clean antique munitions from the Baltic and North Seas.
- New Zealand committed $52 million to help ocean governance in the Pacific Islands.
- Italy allotted €6.5 million to enhance marine surveillance and safety.
- Canada contributed $9 million to the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance for climate resilience in susceptible coastal areas.
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- Expansion of Marine Protected Areas
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- French Polynesia pledged to establish the world’s biggest marine covered area, masking its entire distinct economic region (~5 million sq. Km).
- Spain committed to creating 5 new marine covered regions, aiming to protect 25% of its marine territory.
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- New Global Coalitions and Initiatives
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- The High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean was launched by 37 nations, led by Panama and Canada, to fight ocean noise pollutants.
- A UN organisation collective initiated the One Ocean Finance process to mobilize funding from blue economy sectors.
Source: The Hindu
UPSC Mains Practice Question
Q. What is oil pollution? What are its impacts on the marine ecosystem? In what way is oil pollution particularly harmful for a country like India? (2023)
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