EU Parliament Approves Ratification of UN Biodiversity Treaty to Protect Oceans

The European Union Parliament has voted to ratify the United Nations' Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdictions (BBNJ) treaty, an essential step towards the treaty obtaining the 60 ratifications required to come into force. The BBNJ treaty aims to conserve marine life in international waters, including the high seas and seabed, by allowing the establishment of marine protected areas.

The treaty's goal is to safeguard the ocean from human pressures, preserve biodiversity, and achieve the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework target of protecting at least 30% of the seas by 2030. So far, 89 countries have shown their commitment to ratifying the BBNJ, though only four have formally done so.

The EU's ratification paves the way for its member states to move forward with their national ratification processes. In addition to ratifying the treaty, the EU has also announced €3.5 billion in funding for 40 ocean-related initiatives this year, marking its highest allocation since the Our Ocean Conference began in 2014.

Why this matters: The ratification of the BBNJ treaty by the EU is a significant milestone in global efforts to protect marine biodiversity and combat the impacts of climate change on the world's oceans. The treaty's implementation will be essential in achieving the ambitious goal of conserving 30% of the Earth's land and oceans by 2030.

The EU's leadership in ratifying the BBNJ treaty and committing substantial funds to ocean conservation initiatives underscores the growing international recognition of the urgent need to address the threats facing marine ecosystems. As more countries follow suit in ratifying the treaty, it will strengthen the global framework for protecting the ocean's biodiversity and ensuring the sustainable use of marine resources for future generations.

Key Takeaways

• EU Parliament ratified UN's BBNJ treaty to conserve marine life in int'l waters.
• BBNJ aims to protect 30% of seas by 2030, 89 countries committed to ratify.
• EU ratification paves way for member states' national ratification processes.
• EU announced €3.5B for 40 ocean initiatives, highest since 2014 Our Ocean Conf.
• BBNJ ratification is a milestone in global efforts to protect marine biodiversity.