<
https://news.mongabay.com/2023/09/seventy-plus-nations-sign-historic-high-seas-treaty-paving-way-for-ratification/>
"Seventy-six countries and the European Union have now signed the high seas
treaty, signaling interest in ratifying the agreement designed to protect
marine biodiversity in international waters.
The signing of the treaty is a significant step in a global effort to protect
the high seas, areas of the ocean beyond national borders, which have
historically remained ungoverned and unprotected. The high seas encompass
two-thirds of the world’s oceans, but only about 1% currently have any kind of
protected status.
For nearly two decades, U.N. member states belabored the text for the high seas
treaty, also known as the BBNJ (biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction)
agreement, but failed to agree upon it. Then, in March 2023, nations finally
reached a consensus on various issues about governance of the high seas,
including how to share its resources; how to conduct environmental impact
assessments; how to establish networks of marine protected areas (MPAs); how to
offer support to nations in the Global South to achieve treaty objectives; and
also how to resolve disputes and fund work related to the treaty’s goals.
In June 2023, nations formally adopted the treaty after the text was translated
into the U.N.’s six official languages. But until this week, the treaty
remained unsigned.
More than 70 nations and the European Union signed the treaty at the 78th U.N.
General Assembly (UNGA) taking place between Sept. 18 and 26 in New York. More
parties may sign before the end of the event. Countries will also have two more
years to sign the treaty if they don’t sign at the UNGA."
Via
Future Crunch:
https://futurecrunch.com/good-news-net-zero-rhinos-africa-maternal-asia/
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
