Nearly two-thirds of the global ocean and almost half of the planet are marine areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ). These maritime spaces, which are comprised by the Area and the high seas, present an extraordinary potential for the development of the marine renewable energy (MRE) industry not only for economic reasons but also to provide energy security and as a tool to mitigate the effects of climate change. However, the deployment of MRE technologies can also have impacts on the environment in ABNJ which require to be considered and regulated in advance in order to guarantee that they are developed in a sustainable way. The objective of this post is to highlight the potential of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement to strengthen the framework for the protection of the environment in the development of MRE technologies in ABNJ.
