The first legally binding ocean instrument to provide for inclusive ocean governance, known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, entered into force on January 17, 120 days after at least 60 countries have ratified the treaty. 

To date, the Agreement has been ratified by 85 nations, of which 53 countries are CVF-V20 members. In the most recent CVF Leaders’ Declaration, member states identified the High Seas Treaty as a vital path to protect and govern marine ecosystems, which are also powerful carbon sinks.

Adopted on June 19, 2023 by the Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, the BBNJ Agreement establishes a global framework to protect the high seas and international seabed areas, which comprise over two-thirds of the ocean’s surface, representing over 90% of Earth’s habitat by volume. The BBNJ Agreement aims to protect marine genetic resources, establish marine protected areas, assess the impacts of anthropogenic activities on the high seas, and facilitate marine technology transfer to developing countries.

Its implementation also seeks to address the triple planetary crisis, involving climate and environmental emergencies such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. The Treaty establishes a long-term objective to ensure the sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

However, its successful implementation will depend on international cooperation driven by compliance and meaningful engagement among nations. The CVF-V20 will continue to strengthen South–South cooperation among its member states by supporting treaties and agreements that advance their shared interests and collective resilience.