Accepting the award on behalf of the BBNJ HAC Member States, Minna Epps, IUCN Director, Global Ocean Policy and the Director of the BBNJ High Ambition Coalition Secretariat (hosted by IUCN), expressed gratitude for the international recognition: “This award is not just a recognition of a treaty. It is a recognition of a promise. A promise that the world has made to protect half of our planet.”
President Whipps of Palau, co-chair of the High Ambition Coalition together with Seychelles and the EU, and the first country to ratify the treaty, added: “Receiving this award on behalf of the HAC is a recognition of how important it is to protect half of our planet, which is what BBNJ is about. It requires all of us working together to ensure that our oceans are healthy. The implementation now begins.”
Representing the Coalition, Minna Epps, participated in several high-level sessions and Ministerial roundtables, including From Commitments to Change: Driving Transformative Action for the Ocean, a plenary session featuring HE Razan Al Mubarak, HE Minister Diouf of Senegal, Ambassador Peter Thomson UN Special Envoy for the Ocean, and Dr Sylvia Earle; the BBNJ High Ambition Coalition Lunch Roundtable, a closed-door meeting with President Whipps Jr and HAC members and ocean governance experts; Walking the Nice Talk: From Commitments to Actions, a high-level session organised with the Ocean Climate Platform and the French Government; and Governance of the Ocean – Understanding the High Seas Treaty, a policy dialogue exploring global ocean governance frameworks under the High Seas Treaty.
In another milestone announcement, the High Ambition Coalition revealed a new partnership with Ai2, a non-profit artificial intelligence research institute founded by the late Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft. Ai2 applies advanced AI technology to global challenges, including ocean conservation. Through this collaboration, Ai2’s cutting-edge maritime surveillance tools will be used to monitor high seas marine protected areas under the High Seas Treaty. These technologies enable real-time tracking and detection of vessel activity, strengthening enforcement against illegal fishing and other maritime threats.
The partnership exemplifies the powerful synergy between technology and policy in protecting marine biodiversity beyond national borders. It also underscores the essential role of artificial intelligence and satellite monitoring in supporting the effective implementation of the High Seas Treaty. As the treaty moves toward full implementation, such innovations will play a vital role in ensuring that the world’s shared ocean spaces remain healthy, resilient, and protected for generations to come.