The UN has adopted the world’s first treaty to protect the high seas and preserve marine biodiversity in international waters, marking a milestone after nearly 20 years of effort, secretary-general Antonio Guterres says.
Key points:
- The High Seas Treaty was more than 15 years in the making
- More than 100 countries approved the text of the treaty in March
- UN member states had “pumped new life and hope to give the ocean a fighting chance”, Antonio Guterre said at the time
The adoption followed more than 100 countries reaching an agreement on the of text of the High Seas Treaty in March. Also known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction treaty, it came after more than 15 years of discussions and five rounds of UN-led negotiations.
In approving the text, member states have “pumped new life and hope to give the ocean a fighting chance,” Mr Guterres said in a statement.
The agreement will be open for signature in New York for two years starting on September 20, the day following a summit on the UN sustainable development goals. It will take effect after 60 countries ratify the agreement, according to the UN.
The pact is a key plank in efforts to put 30 per cent of the world’s land and sea under environmental protection by 2030, a goal set in December.
Among other provisions, the legally binding agreement would govern sharing benefits derived from marine genetic resources beyond national jurisdictions, creating protected areas on the high seas and establishing a framework for assessing environmental damage.
Reuters