The Sixth Session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) was held 26 February – 1 March 2024 at the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. The Ministerial Declaration (UN Doc UNEP/EA.6/HLS/L.1) welcomed the multilateral achievement in the adoption of the Internationally legally binding 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 (BBNJ Agreement) (para. 6). UNEA-6 also adopted a Resolution, entitled, Strengthening ocean efforts to tackle climate change, marine biodiversity loss and pollution (UN Doc UNEP/EA.6/L.18) which provides, among others:
The United Nations Environment Assembly,
Strengthening ocean efforts to tackle climate change, marine biodiversity loss and pollution, para. 2
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2. Also encourages Member States, as appropriate, to:
(a) Consider to sign and ratify the BBNJ Agreement at the earliest possible date;
(b) Fully and effectively implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity as appropriate, including its goals and targets relevant to the ocean, and increase efforts at all levels to achieve those goals and targets;
(c) Engage in the ongoing process to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, with the ambition of completing that work by the end of 2024, as mandated by UNEA resolution 5/14;
(d) Ratify, accept, approve or accede to the 1996 Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and other Matter, 1972;
(e) Make significant efforts to tackle ocean acidification and its causes and to further study and minimize its impacts;
De Maribus 