UN
A historic agreement to protect the deep sea has been reached
UN member states believe that the oceans are a potential source of conflict. The text, which aims to protect at least 30% of the area by 2030, still needs to be signed in September.
Published
This agreement is necessary to overcome threats to humanity’s vital ocean and its good health.
AFP
UN member states on Monday adopted the first international treaty to protect the high seas, a landmark agreement to counter threats to the oceans, which are vital to humanity and their good health. “Agreement accepted,” convention chairperson Rena Lee clapped after the consensus was reached.
“The ocean is the life force of our planet. Today, you have breathed new life and new hope so that the sea has a fighting chance,” commented UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, hailing it as a “historic achievement”. Despite its acceptance, Russia abstained from the consensus, calling some elements of the text “absolutely unacceptable”.
In March, after more than 15 years of discussions, including four formal negotiations, member states finally succeeded in reaching an agreement, and after two weeks of marathon negotiations, the third “last” session in a year. The frozen text was then examined by legal services on merits and translated to make it available in the six official languages of the United Nations.
Long neglected
Although marine ecosystems are threatened by climate change, pollution and overfishing, science has proven the importance of protecting this entire ocean, which is often rich in microscopic biodiversity, which provides half of the oxygen we breathe. Also limits warming by absorbing a significant portion of CO2 It is caused by human activities.
The high seas begin where states’ exclusive economic zones end, and are a maximum of 200 nautical miles (370 km) from the coast, so they are not under the jurisdiction of any state. Although it represents almost half of the planet and more than 60% of the oceans, it has long been neglected in the environmental struggle. A primary instrument of the new treaty is the creation of marine protected areas in these international waters.
Target 30%
Today, only about 1% of the high seas are subject to conservation measures. But in Montreal in December, all of the planet’s states pledged to protect 30% of the planet’s land and oceans by 2030. With adoption, “the race for recognition begins and this objective of protecting at least 30% of the oceans by 2030 will be within our reach,” commented Greenpeace’s Chris Thorne.
The new treaty also introduces an obligation to carry out environmental impact assessments for planned activities on the high seas. The text does not list them, but could range from fishing to transport, including controversial activities such as underwater mining or geoengineering. Controls global warming.
“Equitable” sharing of resources
The agreement also establishes a principle of benefit-sharing of marine genetic resources collected on the high seas. Developing countries, which cannot finance the most expensive expeditions and researches, have adopted the principle of “equal in these resources”. Access to scientific data or a share of the expected profits from the commercialization of these resources – which belong to no one – from which pharmaceutical or cosmetic companies hope to obtain miracle molecules.
The text will open for signature on September 20, when dozens of heads of state and government will be in New York for the UN General Assembly. It remains to be seen how many countries decide to get on board.
NGOs believe that reaching the threshold of 60 ratifications for entry into force should not be too difficult, the alliance of the high ambition of this agreement, led by the European Union, already counts about 50 countries, including Japan, Chile, India or Mexico. . But 60 is a far cry from the universality advocated by ocean advocates, who hope the political momentum around adoption won’t slow.
(AFP)
“Avid gamer. Social media geek. Proud troublemaker. Thinker. Travel fan. Problem solver.”