Chile and Belgium join bids for UN ocean biodiversity body

· Climate · China · Chile

Chile and Belgium said on Friday they have joined their bids to host the secretariat of the UN's Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), proposing the Chilean port of Valparaiso as headquarters and Brussels as the base for the treaty's information-exchange mechanism. The BBNJ treaty governs marine life and resources in international waters. Separately, China adopted a law to improve its Antarctic research and strengthen regulation of exploration activities, and passed a new cross-border anti-corruption law.

Why it matters：Where the ocean-biodiversity secretariat sits shapes how the landmark high-seas treaty is administered, a test of multilateral environmental governance.

Key points

  • Chile proposes Valparaiso as headquarters.
  • Brussels would host the information-exchange mechanism.
  • The BBNJ treaty covers marine life in international waters.

Sources (original reporting)

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