JUNE 9 marked a significant occasion as leaders gathered at a high-level event titled ‘Celebrating High Seas Action: Accelerating the Race for Ratification and Ambitious Implementation of the BBNJ Agreement.’ This event represented a pivotal milestone in advancing ocean governance and biodiversity conservation.
Co-hosted by a coalition of 12 governments, including Seychelles, Belgium, Costa Rica, Germany, France, and the Philippines, and supported by the High Seas Alliance, NRDC, IUCN, and Bloomberg Philanthropies, the event highlighted the growing international momentum to bring the High Seas Treaty into force.
With over 50 nations already ratifying the treaty and 15 more publicly committed, the goal of reaching the 60 ratifications required for the treaty’s legal activation appears attainable. Costa Rica’s President, Rodrigo Chávez, and French President, Emmanuel Macron, emphasised the importance of multilateral cooperation, citing environmental tipping points such as coral bleaching, ocean acidification, and marine heatwaves as urgent warnings. They urged that oceans should be treated as both victims and solutions to climate change, demanding actions that are grounded in scientific knowledge and equity.
The Minister for Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment, Flavien Joubert, delivered a powerful address reaffirming the essential leadership of small island developing states (SIDS) in global ocean governance. “For Seychelles, the high seas are not distant waters; they are lifelines,” he stated, emphasising the nation’s deep-rooted dependence on healthy and sustainable marine ecosystems. His remarks highlighted the urgent need for equitable participation in the High Seas Treaty, particularly for vulnerable states on the frontlines of climate and ocean change.
The event also served as a platform for announcing major international funding pledges that reinforced the global demand for equitable access to marine resources and the need to accelerate the ratification of the High Seas Treaty. These commitments reflected a growing consensus that effective implementation must be inclusive, adequately financed, and driven by science.
Key announcements included:
– The European Union committed €40 million through its Global Ocean Programme to support the implementation of the BBNJ Agreement, with an emphasis on capacity building and marine protection.
– Norway pledged support for developing nations to participate in preparatory meetings, enhancing inclusivity and representation in the treaty’s early governance stages.
– Costa Rica launched innovative funding initiatives focusing on the forest-ocean nexus, promoting integrated approaches to climate adaptation and ecosystem resilience.
The event concluded with a powerful message: the BBNJ Treaty is not merely a legal instrument; it is a cornerstone for safeguarding marine biodiversity, strengthening global climate resilience, and ensuring justice for future generations.
—Source: Nation
