Ajit Karn
After years of negotiations, UN member states consented on Saturday to the text of the first international treaty to protect the ocean, a fragile and vital resource that encompasses nearly half the planet.
“The ship has reached the shore,” conference chair Rena Lee proclaimed at the United Nations headquarters in New York shortly before 9:30 p.m. (0230 GMT Sunday) to thunderous and prolonged ovation from delegates.
After more than 15 years of discussion, activists praised it as a breakthrough for the preservation of biodiversity, despite the fact that the text’s precise language was not immediately made public.
The treaty is regarded as essential for conserving 30 percent of the world’s land and oceans by 2030, as agreed by world governments in a historic agreement signed in December in Montréal.
“This is a historic day for conservation and a sign that safeguarding nature and people can triumph over geopolitics in a divided world,” said Laura Meller of Greenpeace.
After two weeks of intense negotiations, including a prolonged session Friday night into Saturday morning, delegates finalised a text that can no longer be substantially altered.
“There will be no reopening or substantive discussions,” Ms. Lee informed the negotiators.
She announced that the agreement will be formally enacted at a later date after it has been reviewed by attorneys and translated into the six official languages of the United Nations.
A spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that the agreement was a “victory for multilateralism and for global efforts to counter the detrimental trends threatening ocean health now and for future generations.”
‘Critical position’
The high seas commence at the limit of exclusive economic zones, which extend up to 200 nautical miles (370 kilometres) from the coasts. Therefore, they do not fall under the jurisdiction of any nation.
Even though the high seas make up more than 60 percent of the world’s oceans and nearly half of the planet’s surface, they have historically received far less attention than littoral waters and a few iconic species.
Ocean ecosystems produce fifty percent of the oxygen we breathe and mitigate global warming by absorbing a significant portion of the carbon dioxide produced by human activities.
They are however imperilled by global warming, pollution, and exploitation.
Approximately one percent of the open ocean is currently protected.
When the new treaty enters into force, marine protected areas will be permitted in these international waters.
“High seas marine protected areas can play a crucial role in developing resilience to the effects of climate change,” said Liz Karan of The Pew Charitable Trusts, which termed the agreement a “momentous accomplishment.”
In addition, the treaty will require countries to undertake environmental impact assessments for proposed high seas activities.
A highly sensitive chapter on the sharing of potential benefits of newly discovered marine resources was one of the focal points of tensions until it was eventually resolved on Friday, a day after the scheduled conclusion of negotiations.
‘Profits’
Without the means to conduct expensive research, developing nations fought to be included in the anticipated windfall from the commercialization of prospective substances discovered in international waters.
Pharmaceutical, chemical, or cosmetic use of recently discovered marine substances that do not belong to anyone is likely to yield future profits.
Observers noted that, as in other international forums, including climate negotiations, the debate ultimately centred on guaranteeing equity between the global South and the North.
In a move seen as an effort to develop trust between wealthy and poor countries, the European Union pledged $42 million in New York to facilitate the ratification and early implementation of the treaty.
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In addition, the EU announced $860 million for ocean research, monitoring, and conservation in 2023 at the conclusion of the Our Ocean conference in Panama on Friday. Countries have pledged a total of $19 billion, according to Panama.
In 2017, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution urging nations to establish a treaty for the high seas.
It had originally planned four negotiation sessions, but had to pass two resolutions to add two more.
Ms. Meller of Greenpeace stated, “We can now transition from discourse to actual change at sea.”
