L'accordo ONU 2023 a tutela dell'alto mare e della biodiversità marina: risorse minerarie e protezione degli oceani

The rapid development of underwater technologies makes the deep sea more accessible to human activities. This involves a risk of uncontrolled overexploitation of ocean resources and, at the same time, an increased vulnerability of critical strategic infrastructure located along the seabed. By approving the UN 2023 Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity in Areas beyond National Jurisdiction, the aim is to ensure a stronger protection of the high seas in order to protect 30% of the oceans by 2030. These marine spaces will also be the subject of a forthcoming ISA regulation on the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources. The new regulatory framework is called upon to respond to the major challenges facing the maritime sector as it seeks to strike a delicate balance between states’ needs for economic growth and the safe and sustainable use of the sea resource