One of the few positive outcomes from Rio+20 was the commitment of the international community to urgently address the need for high seas conservation including through a possible new Agreement under the Law of the Sea. The United Nations BBNJ (biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction) meeting in New York August 19 – 23 is the first time since Rio that states have sat down to actually address this and to determine whether or not the will to achieve an Agreement exists.
It is a litmus moment for the high seas.
Members of the High Seas Alliance will be in attendance at the UN. You can follow developments within the meeting on Twitter by following @HighSeaseAllianc and viewing our online #waveofchange message board.
You can find out more about why we need an Implementing Agreement to the Law of the Sea and the UN BBNJ in our online resources below.
Mind the Gaps!
Without an Implementing Agreement, the high seas is like a jigsaw puzzle with half the pieces missing. Help us fill the gaps by solving our online jigsaw puzzle.
Publications
Synthesis of Gaps Identified in Co-Chairs’ BBNJ Workshop Report
High Seas Alliance and member interventions at the UN BBNJ meeting
- WWF, Pew Environment Group, High Seas Alliance and Deep Sea Conservation Coalition Intervention 19 August 2013 BBNJ
- UN BBNJ working group Greenpeace Statement August 2013
The need for a High Seas Biodiversity Agreement – Greenpeace Briefing Paper
Related Coverage
An Urgent Wake Up Call to Protect our Oceans – Huffington Post
Richard Branson and James Cameron want to save the high seas – LA Times
Cover photo by Ilyuza Mingazova on Unsplash