|
The BBNJ Agreement, which entered into force in January 2026, marks a potential step forward in strengthening sustainable ocean governance. The Agreement applies to marine areas beyond national jurisdiction—covering nearly half of the world’s ocean—and establishes new rules on access to, and benefit-sharing of, marine genetic resources; the designation of marine protected areas; environmental impact assessments; capacity building, and; the transfer of marine technology. While it builds on the foundation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, it goes considerably further in addressing contemporary environmental and equity concerns.
Yet the BBNJ Agreement arrives at a challenging moment in international politics, and its success is not guaranteed. Several significant challenges can already be identified: political resistance from major powers, the likely non-participation of the United States, the issue of deep-sea mining, and complex interactions with existing international bodies. This workshop brings together stakeholders and scholars to explore how these challenges might impact the transformative potential of the BBNJ Agreement, and how they can possibly be overcome.
|