New UN Treaty Offers Hope for Biodiversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction: UNEP-WCMC Charts Path for Cooperation with Biodiversity-Related Multilateral Environmental Agreements 

A landmark new global treaty - the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (known as the BBNJ Agreement) - is poised to transform how the international community conserves and sustainably uses marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ), which cover nearly half of the Earth's surface and are essential for human well-being. 

As the world prepares for the BBNJ Agreement’s entry into force in 2026, attention is turning to how it can work in harmony with relevant instruments, frameworks, and bodies to ensure coherent action across efforts to conserve and sustainably use marine biodiversity in ABNJ. Working with our colleagues across the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), UNEP-WCMC has released a technical paper exploring key interlinkages between the BBNJ Agreement and biodiversity-focused multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) administered by UNEP. The paper identifies opportunities to foster coherence, avoid duplication, and strengthen collective action once the BBNJ Agreement enters into force. 

Linking Global Biodiversity Conventions: A Horizon Scan 

The horizon scan assesses potential linkages between the BBNJ Agreement and four key biodiversity-related conventions administered by UNEP: 

• The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and its Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization 

• The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) 

• The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) 

Each of these frameworks offers critical experience, scientific information, and tools to help shape how the BBNJ Agreement is implemented. The technical paper identifies areas in which lessons from the implementation of these MEAs can inform the development of future implementing arrangements under the BBNJ Agreement. 

The information contained in the technical paper is illustrative rather than exhaustive but provides a preliminary stocktake of potential areas of complementarity. These insights may guide Parties to the Agreement toward thematic areas where discussions on cooperation, enhanced coherence, and coordination could take place.