THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	157
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

urging the State to adopt the 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 and SUPPORT legislative, administrative, and policy measures to implement the Agreement at the state and county levels.

WHEREAS, the 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) is an important initiative to protect the State and the planet; and

WHEREAS, nearly two-thirds of the ocean belongs to all, but no one in particular, and is a global common; and

WHEREAS, the BBNJ Agreement includes binding and voluntary measures that aim to better implement the BBNJ Agreement, especially to protect and conserve vast geographical areas through better cooperation and coordination of various stakeholders; and

WHEREAS, the BBNJ Agreement emphasizes addressing, in part, biological diversity loss and degradation of ecosystems of the ocean due to climate change impacts on marine ecosystems, such as warming and ocean deoxygenation; ocean acidification; pollution, including plastic pollution; and unsustainable use with the goal to advance scientific research globally; and

WHEREAS, the BBNJ Agreement requires its parties to share both monetary and non-monetary benefits arising from activities with respect to marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction in a fair and equitable manner; and

WHEREAS, on June 19, 2023, nearly two hundred countries adopted the BBNJ Agreement by consensus. The BBNJ Agreement represents over two decades of international collaboration among a wide range of stakeholders, which includes countries, scientists, indigenous peoples and local communities, civil society, academics, research institutions, and the private sector; and

WHEREAS, the key elements of the BBNJ Agreement are marine genetic resources and their digital sequence information, including the fair and equitable sharing of benefits; area-based management tools, including marine protected areas; environmental impact assessments; and capacity building and transfer of marine technology; and

WHEREAS, the BBNJ Agreement recommendations provide the basis for climate justice, sustainable development, and earth rights; and

WHEREAS, this body supports the implementation of the BBNJ Agreement where applicable to the State; and

WHEREAS, this body also supports the promotion of a culture of climate justice based on the principles established in the Charter of the United Nations and the Charter of the Pacific Islands Forum; and

WHEREAS, this body encourages greater participation in the United Nations' efforts to support human rights, sustainable development, and climate processes that promote various rights and fundamental freedoms and protect the planet; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the House of Representatives concurring, that the State is urged to adopt the BBNJ Agreement and support legislative, administrative, and policy measures to implement the BBNJ Agreement at the state and county levels; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the State is urged to undertake effective, inclusive, sustainable, and rights-based considerations to address the BBNJ Agreement's aspirations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor and Mayors of each county.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

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; Adoption