The Blue Leaders High-Level Event on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction was held in Belgium.
It urges nations to ratify a new treaty to protect the high seas from pollution, climate change and overfishing.
Countries like Belgium, Cape Verde, Greece, Monaco, Nigeria, Norway and the United Kingdom participated in the event.
Countries agreed to a new treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ Treaty) in March 2023. It was formally adopted two months later.
So far, 88 countries are signatories to the treaty. Only two — Chile and Palau — have ratified it so far.
The BBNJ will “enter into force” when at least 60 countries ratify it.