Nairobi, 23 September 2025 - The ratification of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) by Sri Lanka, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Morocco and Sierra Leone has pushed the total number of supporting countries past the critical threshold of 60, setting in motion the treaty’s entry into force for 17 January 2026. 

This breakthrough means that, in 120 days, a comprehensive legal framework will take effect to guide the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ); an area, comprising the high seas and the deep seabed, making up over 40 per cent of the planet's surface and nearly 95 per cent of its volume. In addition to harbouring biodiversity vital to the health of the planet and all its people. 

UNEP and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) celebrated this historic milestone for global ocean governance. UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen hailed the moment as a victory for environmental multilateralism.  

“The entry into force of the historic BBNJ agreement is a victory for our oceans, our planet and environmental multilateralism,” said Inger Andersen.  

“Now the hard work begins. Quick, effective implementation is key to ensure the vision of this agreement becomes a reality. UNEP, with our rich experience and existing family of multilateral environmental agreements, looks forward to working with Member States to lead the way and deliver this. Our ocean is the foundation of our very existence. Today we took an important step forward to save our ocean, and to save our future.” 

GEF CEO Carlos Manuel Rodríguez echoed this sentiment, he said, “Conservation and sustainable use of the ocean are essential for a healthy planet and healthy people. It is very encouraging to see countries come together under the BBNJ Agreement. The GEF stands ready to support countries with its implementation, including also building close relationships with the BBNJ Agreement COP and Secretariat, for a healthy global ocean.” 

To ensure swift and effective implementation, a robust support system is already in place. In 2024, the GEF, serving as part of the financial mechanism for the BBNJ Agreement, allocated USD 34 million for ratification support and early action activities for countries. 

UNEP, one among three GEF agencies, is facilitating access to this GEF support to countries at a national, regional and global level, through two initiatives; national-level enabling activities and a regional and global-level initiative, with the latter being the latest BBNJ initiative approved by the GEF in September of 2025. 

Through the national-level enabling activities’ initiative, UNEP has secured endorsements from 29 countries (out of these 9 countries; Albania, Bahamas, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Liberia, Maldives, Panama, Seychelles, Sierra Leone have already ratified the treaty) at a national level and is working directly with governments through the Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans (RSCAPs) framework. 

These national-level efforts, are designed to support countries in:  

• (a) assessing the extent to which their current legal, policy, and institutional framework allows for promptly becoming parties to the BBNJ Agreement and enables their implementation of the Agreement. 
• (b) carrying out preparatory work in the context of their ratification, approval, acceptance, or accession process towards becoming parties to the BBNJ Agreement; and  
• (c) supporting their readiness to implement the BBNJ Agreement.  

Other parallel UNEP efforts: 

In August, UNEP and UNEP-WCMC released a technical report exploring linkages between several biodiversity-related multilateral environmental agreements and the BBNJ Agreement.  

The report draws on lessons learned from the implementation of CMS, CITES and CBD with the aim to help inform discussions around the future operational and institutional arrangements under the BBNJ Agreement.  

UNEP also provides legal and institutional support to Member States through the Montevideo Environmental Law Programme. 

The BBNJ Agreement focuses on four key pillars:

1. fair and equitable benefit-sharing from marine genetic resources;
2. area-based management tools like marine protected areas;
3. environmental impact assessments;
4. and capacity-building and technology transfer for developing nations. 

This landmark agreement is set to significantly contribute to achieving the ocean-related SDG goals and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. 

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For further information, get in touch with: Samwel Adawo (samwel.adawo@un.org) Communication Officer, UNEP-GEF International Waters

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NOTES TO EDITORS 

About the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)  
UNEP is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. 

About the Global Environment Facility  

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) includes several multilateral funds working together to address the planet's most pressing challenges in an integrated way. Its financing helps developing countries address complex challenges and work towards meeting international environmental goals. Over the past three decades, the GEF has provided more than $26 billion in financing, primarily as grants, and mobilized another $148 billion for country-driven priority projects.