The agreement on the High Seas reached after years of negotiations, to the applause of the delegates. According to experts, between 10 and 15% of species are threatened with extinction. Marine protected areas will be established
Member States of United Nations have reached an agreement, after years of negotiations, to protect the oceansa fragile and vital treasure that covers almost half of the planet.
The agreement, reached thanks to an unprecedented coalition between the European Union, the United States, Great Britain and China, plans to protect one third of the seas by 2030, as foreseen by the commitment, however not binding, taken by the UN Conference on Biodiversity. The legal framework for establishing marine protected areas has been formalized and a Conference of the Parties (COP) is scheduled to meet periodically to discuss biodiversity and governance.
The vessel has reached shore, announced conference chairman Rena Lee at the United Nations headquarters, at New Yorkjust before 21.30 on Saturday local time (3.30 on Sunday in Italy) to the applause of the delegates.
So far, no government has taken responsibility for the protection and sustainable management of the resources of the High Seas, which makes these areas vulnerable. Some of the planet’s most important ecosystems are at risk, resulting in the loss of biodiversity and habitats. According to experts, between 10% and 15% of marine species already at risk of extinction.
Congratulations from Ursula von der Leyen
The Ocean food, energy, life. She has given us so much to humanity: time to give back. I welcome the agreement on the high seas; a treaty that will protect the oceans beyond national jurisdiction. We made it!. So the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyenon Twitter congratulates after the agreement reached between the member states of the United Nations to protect the high seas.
The ocean is food, energy, life. It has given humanity so much – it?s time to give back.
I welcome the agreement on the High Seas; a treaty that will protect the ocean beyond national jurisdiction.
Grateful to the High Ambition Coalition for its perseverance. We made it!
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) March 5, 2023
Greenpeace: The UN agreement on the oceans is a historic moment
For Greenpeace an event of historic significance: After almost twenty years of negotiations, tonight the Member States of the United Nations finally agreed on a Global Treaty on the Oceans. The text will now be subjected to editorial corrections and translated before being adopted in a subsequent session. This treaty is a monumental victory for ocean protection and an important sign that multilateralism still works in an increasingly divided world.
The Global Treaty on Oceans gives a concrete possibility to the 30×30 goal: protect 30 percent of the oceans by 2030. The text, the result of close negotiations, nonetheless presents some critical points and now it is up to the governments to ratify the treaty as soon as possible and therefore put it into practice quickly, effectively and fairly, reads the note. This is a historic moment for the protection of nature and the oceans. It is also a signal that in an increasingly divided world, the protection of nature and people can trump geopolitical calculations, says Laura Meller of Greenpeace. We congratulate all countries for reaching a compromise by setting aside their different positions and producing a treaty that will allow us to protect the sea, increase our resilience to climate change and protect the lives and well-being of billions of people.
March 5, 2023 (change March 5, 2023 | 1:49 pm)
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