Nearly 70 Countries Sign Historic Treaty to Protect the High Seas

2023-09-21 00:32:23

– Nearly 70 countries in the baptism of the treaty to protect the high seas

Sixty-seven countries, plus the EU as an organization, signed the treaty to protect the high seas on Wednesday, which provides for the creation of marine protected areas.

Published today at 02:32 Updated 1 hour ago

Image d’illustration.

AFP

Nearly 70 countries signed a historic treaty to protect the high seas on Wednesday, raising hopes of entry into force in 2025 to protect marine ecosystems vital to humanity.

United States, Australia, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Mexico, Norway, Fiji… Sixty-seven countries (plus the EU as an organization) signed the treaty upon opening signatures, according to the UN. “This is the start of a new chapter in which the international community will have to take bold action,” reacted Nichola Clark, of the NGO Pew Charitable Trusts. After a final marathon negotiation in March, the text was formally adopted by consensus on June 19, even if Russia “distanced itself”.

The high seas begin where states’ exclusive economic zones (EEZs) end, a maximum of 200 nautical miles (370 km) from the coast and are therefore not under the jurisdiction of any state. Even though it represents almost half of the planet and more than 60% of the oceans, it has long been ignored in the environmental fight. So the flagship tool of the new treaty provides for the creation of marine protected areas.

Today, only regarding 1% of the high seas are subject to conservation measures. But in December in Montreal, all the states on the planet committed at COP15 on biodiversity to protect, by COP2030, 30% of the planet’s lands and oceans. To achieve this, the new treaty is essential, but everything will depend on its date of entry into force, 120 days following the 60th ratification – a process of varying duration depending on the country.

“Race for ratifications”

“The race for ratifications begins and we call on countries to be ambitious, to ratify the treaty to ensure that it comes into force in 2025,” at the time of the next United Nations Ocean Conference in France, he said. declared Mads Christensen, interim head of Greenpeace International. “We have less than seven years to protect 30% of the oceans, there is no time to lose.” Even if the threshold of 60 ratifications seems within reach in the near future, this figure is far from the universality hoped for by the defenders of an ocean which knows no borders.

Science has proven the importance of protecting the entire ocean, teeming with often microscopic biodiversity which provides half of the oxygen we breathe and limits global warming by absorbing a significant part of the CO2 emitted by human activities. . But it is threatened by climate change, pollution and overfishing. “We screwed it up (…) and this treaty is an opportunity to change things,” said actress and activist Jane Fonda. “Even dogs don’t poop in their kennel!”

Apart from marine areas, the new treaty notably introduces the obligation to carry out environmental impact studies of planned activities on the high seas. The text does not list these activities, which might range from fishing to mining. from the ocean floor to maritime transport. Activities which sometimes depend on other international organizations, such as the International Seabed Authority.

The French Secretary of State for the Sea Hervé Berville also took the opportunity to repeat France’s call – far from being consensual – for a moratorium on underwater mining. “We will not be credible if we ratify the High Seas Treaty but allow activity that will cause harm to the climate, biodiversity, and communities across the world,” he insisted.

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