The U.N. High Seas Treaty: Implications for new medical discoveries from the ocean
Nations have agreed to a landmark treaty aimed at protecting marine biodiversity. What does this mean for drug discovery researchers?
This weekend, the United Nations Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) wrapped up negotiations on a landmark treaty on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond national jurisdiction (on the high seas).
A statement by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General, notes the importance of this milestone:
This breakthrough—which covers nearly two-thirds of the ocean—marks the culmination of nearly two decades of work and builds on the legacy of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. This action is a victory for multilateralism and for global efforts to counter the destructive trends facing ocean health, now and for generations to come. It is crucial for addressing the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.
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