Valparaíso Chile for the BBNJ Secretariat

Why Valparaíso, Chile?

A country with oceanic commitment:

Concerns regarding international governance of maritime resources lie at the center of our foreign policy. These are facts, not mere words:

43% of our jurisdictional waters under some protection mechanism.
In 1952, with Peru and Ecuador, Chile promoted the “Santiago Declaration”, which led to the subsequent international recognition of the right of coastal states to 200 nautical miles of Exclusive Economic Zone.
Chile leads the creation of the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Organization (SPRFMO), which today counts with 18 members, being an example of sustainable administration of fishing resources.
Chile actively participates in promoting the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean in instances such as the International Whaling Commission; of the International Maritime Organization; of the Permanent Commission of the South Pacific; the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, and the International Seabed Authority.
In March 2018, we promulgated the National Oceanic Policy and in 2023 the National Oceanic Program.
We participate in multiple international initiatives such as the Our Ocean conference. Furthermore, we integrate the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy and co-chair of the Ocean Climate Dialogue under UNFCCC.

BBNJ and Chile

Various public and local stakeholders in the city and the region support Valparaíso’s proposition.

It is recognized that the treaty provides new opportunities for ocean research and a push for efforts to protect and conserve marine life.

It will also promote the sustainable development of offshore activities, benefiting the city's economic activity.

A strategic place in front of the ocean

Valparaíso is a city that provides excellent health, scholar and connectivity services.

Only an hour and a half by land from Santiago, the capital of Chile, where the seat of government is located, as well as 73 embassies accredited in Chile.

The international airport serves both cities, contributing a great national and international connectivity.

Academia, research
and culture

Valparaíso is a center of attraction that combines several areas that make this city an ideal place to live.

The academic offer is wide. It is home to four of the most important universities in Chile, as well as numerous professional institutes and technical training centers.

Valparaíso is an open-air museum. Its hills, colorful houses, large murals and classic elevators make this city a unique place. In addition, there is the “La Sebastiana Museum”, home of Nobel Prize winner Pablo Neruda; the Municipal “Museum of Fine Arts Palacio Baburizza”; the “National Maritime Museum”, among many others.

Gabriel Boric

President of Chile

“We are proud to offer our loved city of Valparaiso as the official venue of the BBNJ Treaty.

We will continue to work firmly for the conservation of our oceans, because we know how important they are in the fight against the climate crisis, for humanity and our entire ecosystem.”

Alberto van Klaveren

Chilean Minister of Foreign Affairs

“We have built a nation by the ocean, a state with clear commitments and objectives for its protection, conservation and the care of its ecosystems.

We have the opportunity to contribute to the decentralization of the United Nations system, for the global south to be a key player in the construction of climate and ocean solutions, challenges that affect us more than anyone else.”