Key oceans treaty crosses critical threshold to come into force
A global agreement designed to protect the oceans of the world and reverses the damage to sea life.
The open marine treaty received its 60th approval by Morocco on Friday, so it will now come into force as of January.
The agreement, which has been twenty years in the construction, will pave the way for the placement of international waters in marine -protected areas.
Environmentalists have heralded the milestone as a “monumental success” and evidence that countries can work together for environmental protection.
“The agreement, which covers more than two -thirds of the ocean, sets binding rules to maintain and use sustainable way,” the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said. He said.
For decades of over -hunting, transportation from climate change and heated pollution, life under the surface was damaged.
According to the International Association of Nature Conservation (IUCN), it was found that approximately 10% of the sea species were at risk of extinction.
Three years ago, countries acknowledged that 30% of the world’s national and international waters – open seas – should be protected by 2030 to help heal the exhausted sea life.
However, it is difficult to protect the open seas. No one controls these waters, and all nations have no right to send and fish there.
Currently, only 1% of the open seas are preserved and the sea life is at risk of excessive exploitation.
Thus, in 2023, countries signed the open marine agreement by promising to put 30% of these waters in sea -protected areas.
However, this was only able to enter if more than 60 countries approved – that is, they agreed to be legally connected to it.
Elizabeth Wilson, Senior Director of Environmental NGOs Environmental Policy, told the BBC to the BBC at the UN OCEANS Conference earlier this year, usually for more than five years to approve many countries that require parliamentary approval. He said it was “time of registration”.
Britain introduced the bill of approval to Parliament at the beginning of this month.
Kirsten Schuijt, General Manager of WWF International, received a “monumental success for ocean protection” after reaching the threshold of the agreement.
“The Open Naval Treaty will be a positive catalyst for cooperation in international waters and agreements, and a turning point that is lying beyond the authority of national judiciary for two -thirds of the world ocean.”
Mads Christensen, General Manager of Greenpeace International, called “a turning point memory” and “proof that countries can come together to protect our blue planet”.
“The period of exploitation and destruction should end. Our oceans cannot wait and we cannot.”
When the treaty enters into force, countries will propose areas to be protected and they will be voted by the countries that are subsequently registered to the agreement.
Critics state that countries will make their own environmental impact assessments (EIA) and make the final decision – but other countries can record concerns with monitoring organs.
The ocean is very important for the survival of all organisms on the planet. It is the largest ecosystem, it is estimated that it contributes $ 2.5 trillion to world economies and provides 80% of the oxygen we breathe.
