The United States of America has announced its intention to join the High Ambition Coalition on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction, with the EU-launched coalition currently gathering 51 parties.
According to the European Commission, these parties are committed, at the highest political level, to achieve as soon as possible an ambitious international agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ – known also as the “Treaty of the High Seas”), under the auspices of the United Nations.
Areas beyond national jurisdiction comprise 95% of the ocean.
The treaty will allow the designation of marine protected areas (MPAs) and will regulate human activities in the high seas. The announcement from the United States takes place at a crucial time ahead of a decisive new round of talks, due to start on 20 February in the United Nations.
EU Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius said he was very happy to welcome the United States into the High Ambition Coalition.
“We share with them, and the 51 members of the coalition, the goal of urgently protecting the world’s oceans, through an ambitious and equitable High Seas Treaty. I am looking forward to working further together with the United States and all coalition members ahead of a crucial round of talks,” he said.
The Commission said the adoption of the High Seas Treaty is a “key priority” for the European Union and that the bloc will continue to work closely with the coalition’s members and delegations to conclude the negotiations at the resumed session, which will take place in New York from 20 February to 3 March 2023.
It said important progress was made during last year’s fourth and fifth Intergovernmental Conference and during the intersessional period, and that the EU and its member states are hopeful that the decision of the United States to join the coalition will inspire other delegations to do the same.
