In a historic move, 67 countries have signed a groundbreaking United Nations treaty aimed at safeguarding the world's oceans from the devastating impacts of overfishing and other harmful human activities. The treaty, the "High Seas Treaty," was signed during the United Nations General Assembly meeting on September 20. While this represents a significant step towards protecting marine ecosystems, the road to implementation is still ahead.
The High Seas Treaty, a global pact to conserve biodiversity in international waters, was formally adopted by the United Nations in June after months of negotiations. It is widely regarded as a vital tool to achieve the ambitious "30 by 30" target, which seeks to protect 30% of the Earth's land and sea by the year 2030.
Although almost 70 nations signed the treaty at the United Nations General Assembly, it must still undergo national-level ratification before becoming enforceable.
European Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius praised the signing of the treaty, stating;
"With the signature of the High Seas Treaty, we can safeguard the ocean from human pressures and get closer to our objective of protecting at least 30% of the planet by 2030. This treaty is our constitution for the ocean."
Environmental organizations, such as Greenpeace International, have also hailed the treaty signings as a positive development. Mads Christensen, interim executive director of Greenpeace International, referred to it as a "powerful signal" that should maintain momentum towards achieving the "30 by 30" target. However, he emphasized that the real work lies ahead;
"But this signing is a purely symbolic moment. Now politicians must bring the treaty home and ensure it is ratified in record time."
The High Seas Treaty seeks to establish ocean sanctuaries where fishing will be strictly prohibited. Additionally, it will require environmental impact assessments for human activities taking place on the high seas.
Implementing the treaty will come at a cost. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature estimates that $500 mn in funding will be needed to kickstart its enforcement, and an additional $100 mn per year may be required for a special implementation and capacity-building fund.
The urgency to act stems from the escalating threats to the ocean environment. Overfishing, rising ocean temperatures, ocean-bed mining, and the use of geoengineering technologies to enhance the ocean's ability to absorb carbon dioxide are all contributing factors. Environmental groups emphasize that the treaty must be fully implemented by 2025 at the latest to ensure the "30 by 30" protection target is met.
"The ocean can't wait, and with the treaty being in the making for the better part of the past 20 years, there is absolutely no time to waste," stressed Jessica Battle, an ocean expert with the Worldwide Fund for Nature.
While the signing of the High Seas Treaty marks a significant milestone in international efforts to protect the oceans, the true impact of this global commitment will ultimately depend on swift and resolute action by individual nations to ratify and fully implement the treaty's provisions. The health of the world's oceans hangs in the balance, with the "30 by 30" target serving as a critical benchmark for future generations.
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