[Joint Statement]
Welcoming Korea’s Ratification of the BBNJ Agreement
“Korea Officially Endorsed the Ratification, Expected to Play a Key Role in International Marine Conservation”
On Thursday, March 13, the National Assembly held a plenary session and passed the “Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction” under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. With this, Korea has officially endorsed the ratification of the “Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction” (hereinafter referred to as the BBNJ Agreement).
The High Seas Alliance (HSA), a global civil society organization dedicated to protecting the high seas, and the Climate Ocean Research Institute (CORI), alongside a member of the National Assembly Wi Seong-gon, who has been actively cooperating with the Korean government and the National Assembly to promote the BBNJ Agreement, wholeheartedly welcome the National Assembly’s ratification of the agreement.
The BBNJ Agreement, as the third implementing agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, holds significant importance as it addresses key measures to protect the high seas. The agreement introduces area-based management tools, including marine protected areas, and mandates environmental impact assessments for activities on the high seas that may cause significant environmental changes.
This agreement is an essential step towards implementing the “Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework” under the Convention on Biological Diversity, which aims to designate 30% of the world’s oceans as marine protected areas by 2030. As more than two-thirds of the world’s oceans consist of high seas without designated protection, it is crucial to promptly ratify and enforce the BBNJ Agreement to achieve this goal.
Another important aspect is the inclusion of environmental impact assessments (EIA). This is encouraging as it provides a foundation for transparent environmental impact assessments in the high seas and adjacent national jurisdictions concerning for example activities like offshore wind power, carbon capture facilities, deep-sea mining, and the discharge of marine pollutants that can have significant negative impacts on the high seas. Moreover, the EIA includes the cumulative effects of such activities.
It is truly meaningful that Korea has endorsed the ratification of this important agreement. Notably, Korea’s ratification marks the first among the four major East Asian countries (Korea, China, Japan, and Russia), paving the way for accelerated ratification efforts among other Asian nations. As 60 countries are required to ratify the agreement for it to take effect, Korea’s ratification represents an important milestone, positively influencing the global community.
Rebecca Hubbard, Director of the High Seas Alliance, said “The High Seas Alliance commends the Republic of Korea in reaffirming its leadership in ocean governance by approving ratification of the High Seas Treaty today. With the triple planetary crises of biodiversity loss, climate emergency, and pollution, this is a critical moment to rapidly advance conservation of half of the planet covered by the High Seas. Once 60 countries ratify, which many are aiming to do by the 3rd UN Ocean Conference in June, the Treaty will enter into force, changing the face of global ocean conservation and equity forever.”
With the ratification of the BBNJ Agreement, Korea has reaffirmed its commitment to taking a leading role in marine conservation on the international stage. The upcoming 10th Our Ocean Conference (OOC), to be held in Busan this April, will serve as an excellent opportunity for the Korean government to demonstrate its proactive stance on protecting the world’s oceans. We once again express our sincere gratitude and congratulations to the Korean government and the National Assembly for their dedication to making this ratification possible.
Member of the National Assembly Wi Seong-gon, High Seas Alliance (HSA),
Climate Ocean Research Institute (CORI)