high seas treaty

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

the Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction — informally called the High Seas Treaty — concluded under UN auspices in 2023 after nearly two decades of negotiation, establishing for the first time a binding international legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, which cover approximately 64 percent of the ocean's surface and contain some of the world's least understood but most ecologically significant ecosystems; the treaty creates mechanisms for establishing marine protected areas on the high seas, requires environmental impact assessments for activities in international waters, establishes a framework for equitably sharing the benefits of marine genetic resources, and provides capacity-building support for developing countries; the agreement is regarded as a landmark in international environmental law comparable in ambition to the Paris Agreement on climate, though its effectiveness will depend on whether sufficient states ratify it, whether adequate funding is mobilised, and whether enforcement mechanisms prove robust enough to protect high seas ecosystems from escalating human pressures