Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty or Treaty Of High the Seas

• The Indian Ministry of Earth Science exhorts UN members to continue their commitment to the preservation and conservation of the ocean’s biodiversity.
• During the current session of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC), or IGC-5 of Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) (Feb.–March 2023) India has asked the member countries to remain committed to the conservation and preservation of the seas and its biodiversity.
• India backed the ambitious coalition's goal of completing the International Legally Binding Instrument of BBNJ under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea as soon as possible (UNCLOS).

About

• India calls on UN Members to support environmental protection and sustainable economic growth in accordance with UNCLOS.
• States must be determined to support international organisations in order to reach an effective agreement on the preservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity.
• Since 2014, there have been several rounds of intergovernmental negotiations; the most recent one took place in February and March of 2023.
• Even though negotiations are still ongoing and a resolution has not been reached on crucial matters like funding, intellectual property rights, and institutional processes, there has been significant progress on a number of vital subjects.
• Conservation, sustainable use, and equitable benefit sharing are the three internationally recognised principles that guide India's approach to managing biodiversity.
• It is necessary to address issues with institutional structures, intellectual property rights, and funding.
• Member states may work on environmental impact assessments, marine technology transfers, and capacity building.
• Also, it has requested assistance from the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) for promoting sustainable economic development and the welfare of coastal residents
• India has also expressed its support for the ambitious coalition working to hasten the completion of the International Legally Binding Instrument (ILBI) under UNCLOS on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ).

About The BBNJ Treaty:

• An international agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of the marine biological variety in areas outside of national jurisdiction within the scope of the UNCLOS is known as the "BBNJ Treaty," also known as the "Treaty of the High Seas."
• Outside countries' exclusive economic zones or sovereign waterways, BBNJ includes the high seas.
• The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimates that these regions make up "almost half of the Earth's surface."
• Just 1% of these places are protected, making them the least protected and least understood for their biodiversity.
• More than 60% of the world's oceans are made up of marine biodiversity, which is found in places outside of national boundaries.
• It is not subject to any legal restrictions intended to promote conservation, leaving it open to overuse and deterioration.
• The High Ambition Coalition on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction, which was established at the One Ocean Summit in February 2022, brings together numerous delegations involved in the BBNJ negotiations in order to achieve a unified and ambitious solution at the highest political level.

Why does BBNJ need a legally binding document?

• The health of the ocean, the welfare of coastal populations, and the global sustainability of the planet all depend on the presence of biodiversity in areas outside of national borders.
• 95% of the world's oceans are found in non-national areas, which serve humanity in numerous ways including the economy, society, culture, science, and food security.
• Yet, these regions are now exposed to an increasing number of dangers, such as pollution, overuse, and the already obvious effects of climate change.
• Threatening to make matters worse is the rising demand for marine resources over the coming decades, whether it be for food, minerals, or biotechnology.
• The extinction process is beginning there on the deep seafloors, which are thought to be the toughest habitat.

India's Approach to Biodiversity Management:

• As part of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), India has actively participated in the negotiations to create a legally enforceable international standard for the preservation and sustainable use of BBNJ.
• The "Biodiversity Act of 2002," India's legislative framework, highlights the nation's dedication to preservation, sustainable use, and equitable benefit sharing.
• India has a strong democratic system of government that fosters the creation of new institutions as well as the improvement of existing ones.
• India has been concentrating on environmental impact assessment, marine technology transfer, and capacity building.

About United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea (UNCLOS)

• It is an international agreement that was ratified in 1994 after being adopted in 1982.
• It offers a thorough framework, including rules for marine boundaries, navigation, resource management, and environmental protection, for the use and preservation of the oceans around the world.
• One of the most broadly accepted treaties in the world, it has been ratified by 168 nations, including India.
• In its many marine zones, notably the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which extends 200 nautical miles from a country's shore, it recognises the duties and rights of coastal states.
• Several international accords pertaining to the oceans have also been based on UNCLOS, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

Way Forward

• The world community must unite and come to an agreement on a binding document that addresses the preservation and sustainable use of BBNJ.
• The international community's strong commitment to the preservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas outside of national jurisdiction will be demonstrated by the adoption of the BBNJ's legally binding instrument. It will also provide a clear mandate for the agreement's implementation.
• Moreover, concerns like fair benefit distribution, capacity development, and the transfer of marine technology must be covered by the instrument.
• In places outside of national authority, there is a need to improve scientific understanding of marine biodiversity.