German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Environment Minister Steffi Lemke have signed the High Seas Treaty on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. This treaty, adopted by the UN in June, serves as the foundation for establishing protected areas in maritime regions beyond individual countries' jurisdiction, DW reports.
Baerbock emphasized the treaty's significance, calling it "a glimmer of hope for the world's oceans, a glimmer of hope for the people of this world, but also a glimmer of hope for the United Nations." She noted that the high seas had previously been a "lawless area" but that this was now changing.
Lemke, also a member of the Green Party, described the signing as a "historic day for the protection of the seas" and highlighted the importance of having rules in place for preserving biodiversity in the world's oceans. She stressed that healthy oceans are essential for addressing climate change, pollution, and species extinction. The treaty aims to designate "protected areas on the high seas" promptly to achieve strict protection for 30% of the world's oceans.
The High Seas Treaty is a groundbreaking international agreement that extends protection to areas beyond individual countries' exclusive economic zones. It mandates that activities such as mineral resource extraction on the high seas must undergo environmental impact assessments. Over 60% of maritime areas fall outside these exclusive economic zones, and comprehensive protection regulations have previously covered only a small portion of these areas.
Germany, along with numerous other countries, signed the treaty on the first day it became available for ratification. The United States, China, Australia, the United Kingdom, France, Mexico, and the European Union, among others, also signed the treaty on the same day.
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