UN High Seas Treaty Enters into Force

A landmark United Nations treaty aimed at protecting biodiversity in international waters entered into force on Saturday, January 17, marking the first comprehensive legal framework for safeguarding marine ecosystems that cover two-thirds of the world's oceans. The agreement, known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction or High Seas Treaty, applies to vast areas beyond national borders, enabling countries to establish protected zones and address threats like overfishing and pollution.

Negotiated over 15 years and finalized in March 2023, the treaty requires nations to conduct environmental impact assessments for activities affecting ocean ecology. It also promotes the equitable sharing of benefits from marine genetic resources, which support industries such as biotechnology. With more than 80 countries having ratified it since reaching the required threshold of 60 on September 19 of the previous year, the pact now binds signatories to collaborate on conservation efforts. Among the recent ratifiers are China, Brazil, and Japan, while Britain and Australia are expected to approve it soon. The United States signed the treaty in 2023 but has not yet ratified it, leaving...