UN chief hails entry into force of marine biological diversity agreement

UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday hailed the "historic" entry into force of the Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction.

"Today marks a watershed moment for the ocean," Guterres said in a video message to celebrate the agreement coming into force on Jan. 17.

"This is a historic achievement -- for people and planet; for international cooperation and the United Nations," he said.

The UN chief said the treaty establishes the first legal framework for conserving and sustainably using marine biodiversity in the two-thirds of the ocean that lies beyond national borders, and provides "binding global rules" to share fairly the benefits from marine genetic resources.

"In a world of accelerating crises -- climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution -- the Agreement fills a critical governance gap to secure a resilient and productive ocean for all," he said, urging all countries to join the treaty and calling for its swift universal and full implementation.

The negotiation process for the agreement began in 2004, and the agreement was adopted by consensus in June 2023. Enditem