Webinar on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty: Implications for Ireland

The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (DCEE) is pleased to share details of a webinar on ‘Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty: Implications for Ireland’, scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 17 June 2026 from 12:00-13:00PM Irish Standard Time. What will this webinar cover? 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, also known as the “BBNJ Agreement”, is the first dedicated global treaty on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of the high seas and deep seabed. The entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement on 17 January 2026 represents a significant breakthrough for global ocean governance following a process that took over 20 years. Ireland ratified the BBNJ Agreement on 23 September 2025 and DCEE is currently engaged in the process of identifying the steps needed to fully implement the BBNJ Agreement. More information can be found here. This introductory webinar is open to all those interested in learning more about high seas biodiversity protection. It will introduce participants to the role played by Ireland in the BBNJ negotiations, the four main pillars of the Agreement and Ireland’s plans for implementation, followed by a Q&A session. Speakers Barry Lennon, Legal Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Sarah Enright, Marine Environment and Planning, Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment Conall O’Connor, Marine Strategic Policy, Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment Register here: Please share among your networks and reply to BBNJ@dcee.gov.ie by close of business on 9 June 2026 to indicate your interest in attending the webinar.