Outcomes in DetailThe Marine Biodiversity Treaty (BBNJ Agreement) - In a big step towards entry into force of 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 (BBNJ Agreement), 19 more States ratified the Agreement in the margins of the Conference, and 20 more signed it.
- The treaty requires 60 ratifications to trigger a 120-day countdown before becoming legally binding. UNOC saw progress with 56 countries ratifying it. The U.S. hasn’t ratified it as has India, though the latter has said it is in the “process” of doing so
Voluntary commitments made during the Conference include: - The European Commission, as part of its Ocean Pact, announced an investment of 1 billion EUR to support ocean conservation, science and sustainable fishing.
- French Polynesia pledged to create the world’s largest marine protected area to safeguard its seas, covering its entire exclusive economic zone, approximately 5 million square kilometres (1.93 million square miles).
- New Zealand committed over 52 million US dollars towards supporting enhanced ocean governance, management and science in the Pacific Islands region.
- Germany launched a 100 million EUR immediate action programme for the recovery and clearance of legacy munitions in the German Baltic and North Seas – the first of its kind.
- Indonesia, the World Bank and other partners launched a Coral Bond, a groundbreaking financial instrument designed to mobilize private capital to conserve coral reef ecosystems within marine protected areas in Indonesia.
- Thirty-seven countries, led by Panama and Canada, launched the High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean — the first high-level political initiative to tackle ocean noise pollution on a global scale.
- Italy committed 6.5 million EUR to strengthen surveillance by the Coast Guard in marine protected areas and on oil platforms, including through a satellite surveillance system capable of detecting potential oil spills in real time.
- Canada contributed 9 million US dollars to the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance to help Small Island Developing States and coastal developing countries increase their resilience to the impacts of climate change through nature-based solutions.
- Spain committed to creating five new marine protected areas that would allow protection of 25% of its marine territory.
- A collective of United Nations agencies and global partners launched a co-design process for One Ocean Finance — a bold new effort to unlock billions in new financing from ocean-dependent industries and blue economy sectors.
- One Ocean Finance seeks to deliver triple-win outcomes: accelerating industry transition, restoring ocean health, and supporting resilient coastal communities.
- Despite the ocean’s central role in global trade, food security, climate regulation, and livelihoods, Sustainable Development Goal 14 remains the least funded, with less than USD $10 billion invested between 2015 and 2019—far short of the estimated $175 billion needed annually.
- To address this widening finance gap, One Ocean Finance seeks to mobilize new and diverse sources of capital, especially from ocean-linked sectors, and deploy them through blended financial instruments that can de-risk innovation and unlock private investment.
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