While world leaders have been convened to discuss the future of the planet’s biodiversity at COP16 in Cali, Colombia this past week, it’s on the sidelines that some of the most impactful action has been taken, including a groundbreaking new pledge made by 11 of the world’s leading philanthropic efforts to accelerate the development of ‘high-quality’ Marine Protected Areas across the high seas.

Totalling $51.7 million, the new funding is the largest High Seas commitment made by private philanthropy to date and will be used, in part, to build an international consensus on how best to govern the protection of the high seas under the High Seas Treaty.

Sending a clear signal to the world, the pledge was announced during COP16’s dedicated Finance Day and was made by a consortium of the world’s leading philanthropies, including the Bezos Earth Fund, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Blue Action Fund, Blue Nature Alliance, and Schmidt Ocean Institute. It was made in recognition of the need for rapid development and implementation in effective Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) within the high seas.

The High Seas cover the expanse of the world’s ocean found outside of nations’ waters. The implementation of high-quality MPAs is needed urgently and quickly if the world is to make meaningful progress towards the global goal of protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030.

The High Seas Treaty currently fills a key gap in international governance by establishing a mechanism for governments to establish MPAs in the high seas. But funding is needed to kickstart the work of accelerating these MPAs, with a focus on supporting the Global South leadership ambitions and priorities.

“The creation of Marine Protected Areas in the High Seas is essential for preserving the ocean’s health and ability to act as a climate ally,” said Melissa Wright, the woman in charge of leading the Bloomberg Ocean Initiative at Bloomberg Philanthropies. 

“This joint funding pledge aims to kickstart the development of proposals for High Seas MPAs and prepare the Treaty for their earliest adoption. With less than 2% of the high seas currently protected, action cannot wait.”

The finances will go towards supporting global initiatives in the High Seas space, including the previously announced BBNJ First Movers government collaborative led by Chile and supported by Palau, the US, and Canada with its commitment to ‘fast-track the creation of the first set of MPAs under the High Seas Treaty.

It will also support initiatives to encourage and emphasise Indigenous participation and scientific analysis to identify key areas across the high seas for protection.

Patricia Leon, associate director for nature conservation at the Bezos Earth Fund, said: “Protecting the High Seas takes more than designating new boundaries – it requires strong governance and effective management to ensure lasting impact.

“As part of our commitment to the global 30×30 goal, the Bezos Earth Fund is supporting leaders in regions like the Blue Pacific Continent and eastern Tropical Pacific to advance protections that are practical, enduring, and grounded in regional expertise.”

The announcement this week builds on the $5 million pledged by the Bezos Earth Fund, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Blue Nature Alliance, and others back in 2023 when it was made to support the early adoption of the High Seas Treaty and help developing countries join the global cause to protect the high seas.

To date, this philanthropic consortium has deployed more than $10 million to non-governmental organisations working in different regions and globally. As of today, 14 countries have officially ratified the Treaty and 105 nations have signed their intent to do so. Once the Treaty has gained 60 ratifications in total, it will enter into force.

The need is great. The High Seas comprise nearly two-thirds of the ocean’ area and represent 95% of the habitable space, by volume, on our planet. Alongside playing a key role for many important species of sharks, tuna, and whales, the High Seas helps regulate the global climate and supports billions of people around the world dependent on a healthy ocean.

“Much like their land-based counterparts, Marine Protected Areas are essential to a healthy planet,” said Wendy Schmidt, co-founder and president of the Schmidt Family Foundation and the Schmidt Ocean Institute.

“An ocean that is free from pollution, overfishing, mining, and other threats is an ocean that can sustain us with protein, clean air, and the ongoing promise of untold discoveries, from medicine to the secrets of how life began. Schmidt Ocean Institute is pleased to provide ship time on our research vessel so that scientists can continue to explore and discover all our ocean holds.”

The global target to protect and conserve at least 30% of the world’s land and ocean by 2030 was adopted within the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity at the end of the COP15 UN Biodiversity Conference in 2022. The world’s eyes are now on what commitments will come from COP16 in Cali this month.

The global target of protecting and conserving at least 30% of the world’s land and ocean by 2030 (30×30) was adopted within the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity at the conclusion of the COP15 UN Biodiversity Conference in 2022.

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