January 17, 2026
UN biodiversity treaty comes into force, aiming to protect 30% of oceans by 2030
Under the treaty, countries must conduct environmental assessments of activities that have an impact on ocean ecology The treaty reached the threshold of 60 national ratifications on September 19 last year, meaning it will be officially operational within 120 days. PHOTO: PIXABAY A landmark global treaty to conserve biodiversity on the high seas entered into force on Saturday, providing countries with a legally binding framework to tackle threats such as overfishing and meet the goal of protecting 30 percent of the ocean environment by 2030. The UN treaty, also known as Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), was finalized in March
