United Nations Approves Historic Treaty to Protect High Seas

Title: United Nations Approves Historic Treaty to Protect High Seas

Date: June 20, 2023

In a significant environmental milestone, the United Nations has approved the first international treaty aimed at safeguarding the high seas. The treaty, which has been hailed as a historic achievement, establishes a legal framework for expanding environmental protection to include international waters, covering more than 60 percent of the world’s oceans.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, expressed his delight at the approval of the treaty, emphasizing its importance in providing a chance for the ocean to thrive. Guterres described the ocean as the lifeblood of our planet and highlighted the need to spread new life and hope through this landmark agreement.

After more than 15 years of negotiations, UN member states reached a consensus on the treaty text in March, following extensive discussions. Since then, the text has undergone meticulous scrutiny by lawyers and translators to ensure its conformity in the UN’s six official languages.

Rebecca Hubbard of the High Seas Coalition stressed the urgency for countries to ratify the treaty promptly to enable its enforcement. She emphasized the treaty’s role in protecting our oceans, building resilience against climate change, and safeguarding the lives and livelihoods of billions of people.

Scientists have increasingly recognized the vital role of oceans in maintaining human health, well-being, and survival. Oceans produce a significant portion of the world’s oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide to mitigate climate change, and harbor diverse biodiversity, including microscopic organisms.

However, the high seas, which are located outside any country’s exclusive economic zones, have often been overlooked in environmental discussions. The treaty aims to address this gap by allowing the establishment of marine protected areas in international waters. Currently, only about 1 percent of the high seas benefit from protection measures.

The treaty is crucial for countries committed to protecting 30 percent of the world’s oceans and land by 2030, as agreed upon in a separate landmark agreement reached in Montreal in December. French Minister of State for Maritime Affairs, Hervé Berville, emphasized that approving the treaty provides the means to achieve this target. He called for expedited ratification processes to ensure the treaty’s entry into force by the time of the next United Nations Oceans Conference, scheduled to be held in Nice, France, in June 2025.

The approval of this historic treaty marks a significant step forward in international efforts to conserve and sustainably use marine biodiversity in remote areas of the high seas. It underscores the importance of international cooperation in protecting our oceans and ensuring a sustainable future for humanity.

Source: [1] “The new landmark United Nations Agreement for Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity in High Seas” – UNESCO

bbnj treaty

Gency of the treaty, stating that “the current legal framework for the high seas is woefully inadequate to address the escalating threats our ocean faces.” The treaty aims to fill this gap by establishing a comprehensive framework for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

Once ratified by individual nations, the high seas treaty will provide guidelines and regulations to govern the use of international waters, with the goal of protecting ecosystems and promoting sustainable practices. It will address issues such as marine pollution, overfishing, and the impacts of climate change on the world’s oceans.

The treaty’s approval is a significant step forward in global efforts to protect marine biodiversity and ensure the long-term health of our oceans. It recognizes the interconnectedness of the ocean with the planet and emphasizes the need for collaborative and coordinated action to address the challenges it faces.

It is important to note that while the treaty has been approved by the United Nations, it still needs to be ratified by individual member states. Once ratified, the treaty will come into effect, signaling a new era of international cooperation and commitment to protecting our shared marine resources.

Overall, the approval of the historic treaty marks a crucial milestone in global conservation efforts and underscores the importance of collective action in safeguarding the high seas for future generations. By establishing a legal framework for the protection of international waters, the treaty sets the stage for enhanced environmental stewardship and a more sustainable future for our oceans.