The Advisory Opinion on Climate Change by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) and the BBNJ Agreement are two important legal documents advancing the international governance of the ocean. The advisory opinion clarifies obligations of States pertaining to the reduction of greenhouse gases as it constitutes marine pollution.

One of the concrete legal implications from this advisory opinion is that Indonesia should improve its GHG reduction plan by incorporating a plan to reduce GHG from maritime activities.

Secondly, the BBNJ agreement opens the opportunity for Indonesia to take a significant part by submitting proposals for the establishment of marine protection areas beyond national jurisdiction. This agreement also provides a platform for Indonesia to benefit from the sustainable use of the marine genetic resources as well as capacity building and transfer of marine technology.

On May 9th, 2025, Indonesia Ocean Justice Initiative (IOJI) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia organized a workshop titled “Advancing Law of the Sea: Addressing Climate Change and Marine Biodiversity Challenges”, with the Honourable Judge Tomas Heidar, President of the ITLOS, as one of the speakers. This workshop calls for a comprehensive approach by the government, private actors, academics and civil societies in responding to this legal development.

Let’s work toward protecting our oceans for future generations!