| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | World's first legally binding High Seas Treaty enters into force (January 17, 2026) |
| Coverage | Protects international waters (high seas), covering two-thirds of the world's oceans (nearly half the planet). |
| Official Name | Agreement on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Treaty) |
| Common Name | "Paris Agreement for the Ocean" |
| Adoption Year | 2023 |
| Legal Status | First legally binding treaty for high seas biodiversity under UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea). |
| Key Objective | Establish global rules for conservation, sustainable use, and fair sharing of marine resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction. |
| Major Provisions | - Creation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in high seas (currently only 1% protected). <br> - Mandatory environmental impact assessments for harmful activities. <br> - Science/technology cooperation and data sharing. <br> - Equitable sharing of marine genetic resources (e.g., medicinal organisms). |
| Immediate Obligations | - Ratifying countries must collaborate on ocean governance. <br> - Support for developing nations in capacity building. <br> - Integration of conservation goals in bodies like International Maritime Organization (IMO) and International Seabed Authority (ISA). |
| Global Target | Supports 30% ocean protection by 2030 (scientifically recommended for ecosystem health). |
| Challenges | - Enforcement (reliance on satellite tracking, naval patrols, UN agencies). <br> - Need for political will to regulate fishing/industrial activities. |
| Ecological Importance | High seas regulate climate by absorbing CO₂, producing oxygen, and face threats like overfishing, pollution, deep-sea mining, and climate change. |
| Correct Answer (Q) | C. International waters beyond national jurisdiction |
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