Glen Wright

In 2024, global renewable energy growth was primarily driven by the power sector, where capacity expanded by 741 gigawatts (GW), the largest annual increase ever recorded. Solar photovoltaics (PV) led this growth, supported by rapidly falling costs, large-scale deployments and mature supply chains; however, growth in wind energy installations slowed. Deployment of battery storage hit record levels, driven by falling prices and growing recognition of storage as critical for grid reliability. Despite this momentum, renewable energy growth could not keep pace with rising global electricity demand. Growth in electricity demand was driven by higher temperatures, industrial expansion and rapid electrification in emerging markets. Data centres consumed large amounts of electricity as use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies continued to grow. Renewables were deployed to meet some of this demand, and fossil fuels filled the gap. Global energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions increased 0.8% compared to 2023. The year 2024 was the hottest on record, and for the first time the global average temperature exceeded 1.5 degrees Celsius ( degreesC) above pre-industrial levels over a full calendar year. Climate impacts intensified worldwide: Los Angeles (United States) faced severe wildfires, Valencia (Spain) experienced extreme flooding, droughts hit Latin America, and flash floods inundated the Caribbean. These events disrupted communities, economies, and energy systems, with vulnerable regions suffering the most. This series of disasters again emphasises that the climate emergency is not a future threat it is already disrupting lives and livelihoods across the planet. Energy security remained in the spotlight in 2024, as geopolitical tensions, trade disruptions and rising economic nationalism influenced national energy strategies. Countries sought to secure supply, reduce external dependencies and control prices. While some countries accelerated their investments in renewables and energy storage to reduce risk and increase resilience, fossil fuel investments also grew, often driven by industrial lobbying and short-term security concerns. As these developments underscore, the energy transition is shaped not only by technical and economic factors, but also by political and governance choices, domestic pressures and competing visions of national interest. Renewable energy is no longer just a climate solution; it is essential infrastructure. In a world of intersecting crises, renewables support sustainable economic development, public health and energy security.

With a new international agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) on the horizon, now is the time to start laying the foundation for successful implementation. This paper provides some initial reflections for supporting rapid, effective, and equitable implementation of the BBNJ Agreement in three priority areas: (1) bringing the Agreement into force; (2) establishing the institutional framework, including financial mechanisms; and (3) developing capacity, science, and technology. With reference to selected examples from other international processes, the paper makes suggestions for encouraging wide ratification of the BBNJ Agreement, establishing a Preparatory Commission (PrepCom), mobilizing resources, and building partnerships to advance science and capacity. The growing impacts of climate change and human activities on the global ocean necessitate urgent action, so we must begin to work on the implementation of the BBNJ Agreement as soon as possible to secure ocean health for the benefit of present and future generations.

The 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) defines areas of maritime jurisdiction and sets out the rights and obligations of States, thus serving as a “Constitution for the ocean”. Whereas Coastal States have exclusive rights to harvest minerals within their national jurisdiction, mineral resources of the seabed beyond national jurisdiction (“the Area”) are subject to a dedicated international legal framework. Under UNCLOS, seabed minerals in the Area are part of the common heritage of humankind: they cannot be appropriated by any one State and benefits arising from their exploitation must be shared. The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is responsible for regulating mining in the international seabed Area and protecting the marine environment. Having operated in relative obscurity since its inception in 1994, the Authority is now firmly in the spotlight, especially since Nauru triggered a rule in the international legal framework in June 2021 that requires adoption of exploitation regulations by 9 July 2023 (the “two-year rule”). At the same time, calls to halt development of seabed mining are growing, including from States, scientists, and the private sector. The ISA is at an inflection point, and States must carefully consider next steps as strong political engagement and action will be essential for finding a way forward. This Issue Brief aims to help States and stakeholders to understand the legal framework and the current state of play, with a particular focus on the two-year rule. It outlines possible pathways to averting deadlock and instituting a precautionary pause on the development of mining activities.

The development of a new international legally binding instrument for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ agreement) is in the final negotiation phase. Legal recognition of rights of nature is emerging worldwide as a fresh imperative to preserve ecological integrity, safeguard human wellbeing, broaden participation in decision-making, and give a voice to nature - but so far exclusively within national jurisdiction. In this paper, we consider how a Rights of Nature perspective might inform the BBNJ agreement. We examine Rights of Nature laws and identify four characteristics relating to: i) rights; ii) connectivity; iii) reciprocity; and iv) representation and implementation. We argue that a Rights of Nature perspective can reinforce existing ocean governance norms, inspire new measures to enhance the effectiveness and equitability of the BBNJ agreement and enable global ocean stewardship in ABNJ.

Cognisant of the growing threats to biodiversity in marine areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ), States at the United Nations are negotiating a treaty to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of this vast global commons. These negotiations provide a unique and timely opportunity to strengthen the management regime for the global ocean, building on the vision of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The treaty will cover a ‘package deal’ of issues: marine genetic resources (MGRs); area-based manage- ment tools (ABMTs), including marine protected areas (MPAs); environmental impact assessments (EIAs); and capacity building and technology transfer. In order to be effective, ambitious provisions are needed on each of these elements, including by addressing climate change and ensuring the protection of marine ecosystems. A fair and equitable treaty could further support conservation and sustainable use by strengthening existing management frameworks and providing global oversight, developing capacity, and placing science at the heart of decision making.

States at the United Nations have begun negotiating a new treaty to strengthen the legal regime for marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. Failure to ensure the full scope of fish biodiversity is covered could result in thousands of species continuing to slip through the cracks of a fragmented global ocean governance framework.