Greece has become the third EU country—after France and Spain—to officially ratify the landmark global High Seas Treaty, aimed at protecting the world’s oceans.
The treaty, also known as Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) had been signed, with the vast majority being in favor, by the European Union as a bloc in April 2024. It was finalized in New York in 2023 as the first legally binding international agreement on biodiversity conservation in areas beyond national jurisdiction. So far, 22 of the 112 participating countries have ratified it.
The agreement to preserve the health of oceans globally was agreed upon by the world’s governments after ten years of discussions and debate. One of its key goals is to help meet the global “30-by-30” target, which calls for the preservation and restoration of marine ecosystems by designating 30 percent of the ocean’s surface as protected zones by the year 2030. It also allows for the creation of marine protected areas and establishes rules for conducting environmental impact assessments for high sea activities.
Deputy Foreign Minister Alexandra Papadopoulou emphasized the treaty’s urgency in light of climate change. “The adoption of this Agreement comes at a time when the devastating effects of the climate crisis are no longer a scientific scenario but a grim reality and global warming is radically changing the oceans,” she said. She noted rising temperatures, increased ocean acidity, and declining oxygen levels as major concerns.
Greece pledged millions in the protection of the seas prior to ratifying the treaty for ocean protection
Since April 2024, Greece has planned to push ahead with 21 initiatives worth 780 million euros ($830.9 million) to protect the seas and tackle coastal pollution.
The pledge was made by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on the eve of the international “Our Ocean” Conference that took place in Athens with delegates that included 12 heads of state, around 50 ministers and officials, and representatives from 120 nations and entities, including the UN, EU, and NATO.
Greece, which has thousands of islands and the longest Mediterranean coastline of any littoral state, said it planned to create two marine parks, one in the Ionian Sea and one in the Aegean, as part of the initiatives.
“Quietly but methodically, Greece is playing a leading role in the defense against dramatic climate changes, which are proven to affect every region and every activity,” Mitsotakis said in an article published in The Kathimerini newspaper.
Mitsotakis said other initiatives underway included campaigns to curb plastic pollution; setting up a monitoring system for protected marine areas to watch for illegal fishing practices that damage the seabed; and constructing charging stations at twelve ports for electric vessels.
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