Treaty to protect marine biodiversity beyond national borders enters into force, speaker says

Speaker 1, Speaker, said, "Today marks a watershed moment for the ocean." The speaker announced that the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement "is now in force," calling it a historic achievement for people, the planet and international cooperation.

The speaker said the treaty "establishes the first legal framework for conserving and sustainably using marine biodiversity" in the roughly two-thirds of the ocean that lie beyond national borders. "We now have binding global rules to share fairly the benefits from marine genetic resources, establish and enforce marine protected areas, conduct rigorous environmental impact assessments, and provide capacity and technology to those that need it most," the speaker said.

The statement framed the agreement as a response to overlapping global crises. "In a world of accelerating crises, climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, the [agreement] fills a critical governance gap to secure a resilient and productive ocean for all," Speaker 1 said.

Speaker 1 commended states that joined the agreement and urged all states to accede and move to "universal and full implementation," stressing that the treaty’s benefits depend on broad participation. The speaker closed the brief statement by again urging swift action to honor the agreement’s commitments.

No votes or formal decisions were recorded in the transcript of this statement.