India is unlikely to ratify the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) settlement—additionally identified informally because the ‘High Seas Treaty’—at the ongoing United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, sources indicated to The Hindu.
Though India signed the settlement in September 2024, formal ratification is pending. Before continuing, the federal government is required to amend sure legislations, together with the Biological Diversity Act, it’s learnt. “This will probably be taken up after the Monsoon Session (July 12–August 12) and needs to be passed in Parliament. There are other issues that also need to be sorted out,” an individual acquainted with the negotiations stated.
As of June 10, 49 nations have ratified the treaty. Once 60 nations full the method, the treaty will enter into authorized power.
Union Minister for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh, who’s representing India at the convention, which continues till June 13, said in France that India was within the “process of ratifying the treaty.”
One of probably the most contentious elements of the BBNJ is the sharing of assets. The excessive seas, mendacity past the unique financial zones (EEZ) of countries, will not be underneath the jurisdiction of any single nation. These areas are identified to harbour distinctive and unique marine life. While business extraction stays technically difficult, a transparent mechanism for equitable sharing of potential financial advantages is but to be finalised.
In addition to useful resource sharing, the BBNJ settlement seeks to tackle long-term conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas past nationwide jurisdiction. It lays out mechanisms for environmental impression assessments, area-based administration instruments, and enhanced worldwide cooperation for ocean governance.
In his tackle on June 10, Dr. Singh highlighted India’s progress on Samudrayaan, the nation’s manned submersible mission, which is anticipated to attain ocean depths of up to 6,000 metres and is slated for a trial dive in 2026. He additionally referred to India’s nationwide ban on single-use plastics and highlighted greater than $80 billion in Blue Economy investments.
India reiterated its name for a legally binding Global Plastics Treaty and launched the ‘SAHAV’ digital ocean knowledge portal at the convention, underscoring its rising management in international marine conservation efforts.
The convention is being co-hosted by France and Costa Rica underneath the theme, “Accelerating Action and Mobilizing All Actors to Conserve and Sustainably Use the Ocean.”
Published – June 11, 2025 06:36 pm IST
