Strengthening Environmental Cooperation in Ukraine
Oleksiy Sobolev, the Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine, has signed a significant agreement regarding the international protection of ocean ecosystems at the UN headquarters in New York.
According to the Ministry of Economy, this agreement positions Ukraine as a participant in a new international mechanism for safeguarding marine resources in international waters.
Based on a decree from the President of Ukraine dated August 28, 2025, Oleksiy Sobolev was authorized to sign this document in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
«This agreement represents an important step toward Ukraine's European future. We affirm that the preservation of oceans is integral to our ecological integration within Europe and globally. Our location by the Black and Azov Seas makes marine security a strategic issue for our country and region; even amidst war, we demonstrate our commitment to global environmental stewardship and combating ecological threats», emphasized Sobolev.
This document will aid in achieving the goals of the Convention on Biological Diversity, which aims to conserve 30% of global marine territories by 2030, and aligns with the Paris Agreement concerning Blue Carbon - carbon absorbed by marine ecosystems.
The agreement also enables Ukraine to participate in shaping international marine policy and highlights the negative environmental impacts of Russia on Crimea and the Black Sea.
The BBNJ agreement was adopted in 2023 and is the third implementation agreement under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Its aim is to establish unified global biodiversity conservation rules covering two-thirds of the world's oceans.
So far, 140 countries have signed the agreement, 54 of which have ratified it within their national jurisdictions. All countries have 120 days from the date of signing to complete the ratification process, after which the agreement will come into effect.
