A newly ratified treaty to safeguard life at sea is expected to intensify opposition to deep-sea mining at a United Nations climate summit this week in New York, United States, running alongside the leaders’ general assembly.
The High Seas Treaty, officially known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement, will enter into force in January next year. This was made possible after Morocco became the 60th nation to ratify it on Friday, crossing the threshold required for UN treaties.Â
Two decades in the making, the pact allows the creation of vast conservation zones in international waters, with the goal of protecting 30% of the ocean and halting biodiversity loss by 2030.
Although the treaty does not mention mining directly, it requires governments to co-operate with agencies such as the Jamaica-based International Seabed Authority (ISA), which has yet to approve commercial…
