Treaty for safeguarding open seas on the verge of amassing 60 ratifications for implementation
Headline: The High Seas Treaty: A Step Closer to Saving the Oceans?
Bye-Bye, Ocean Woes! The high seas are practically knocking on the door of a new era with a landmark international treaty hanging on the brink of becoming law.
Newsflash! French President, Emmanuel Macron, declared that the High Seas Treaty could soon become an enforced international agreement, claiming that support is strong enough, with an impressive 50 countries already on board and another 15 countries ready to follow suit. In his opening speech at the third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC), Macron stated that this collective commitment will lead to the treaty's imminent implementation, though a precise timeline has yet to be given.
However, the UN's official website still displays only 32 ratifications, falling short of the treaty's activation requirements.
Ride the Wave of Change! In preparation for UNOC, the EU and six of its member states announced their ratification of the treaty. Previously, Spain and France had already sealed their approval early this year. On the first day of the conference, European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, pledged €40 million to "bring the High Seas Treaty to life" by supporting African, Caribbean, and Pacific nations in their ratification and implementation efforts.
Why does this Treaty Matter? Known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Borders agreement (BBNJ), the High Seas Treaty will enable nations to create marine protected areas in international waters for the very first time. These vast expanses cover roughly two-thirds of our planet's oceans, which despite being ungoverned by any specific international jurisdiction, are managed through overlapping regional fisheries agreements, shipping conventions, and isolated marine protected areas.[1][2]
The treaty intends to strengthen the protection of these underprotected regions by standardizing rules and enforcement mechanisms, ensuring the preservation of the high seas, and protecting the marine life within them.
The agreement was formally adopted in 2023 after almost two decades of negotiations. As of now, 60 ratifications are necessary for the treaty to become legal binding international law. The treaty will officially enter into effect 120 days following the 60th ratification.
Dive Deeper:- high seas- Ursula von der Leyen- conference- Treaty- Emmanuel Macron- Ocean
- This significant international agreement, known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Borders (BBNJ) or High Seas Treaty, not only aims to preserve the high seas but also expands its focus to other crucial areas of our planet's health and wellness, such as mental health, environment science, and health-and-wellness, by establishing marine protected areas that can foster biodiversity and contribute to our overall well-being.
- As we strive towards a future where the health of our oceans and the planet is safeguarded, it's important to remember that the High Seas Treaty is just one step in addressing larger environmental challenges like climate change, which also require the collective effort and cooperation of nations in the fields of science, health-and-wellness, and environmental-science.
