United Nations adopts treaty to protect international waters

Panorama of the intergovernmental meeting to ratify the treaty on the protection of international waters at the UN headquarters in New York (USA) on June 19, 2023. Photo: THX/TTXVN

It is a historic environmental agreement designed to protect ecosystems vital to humanity.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the adoption of the treaty a "historic achievement" that creates a legal framework for extending environmental protection to international waters, which cover 60% of the world's oceans.

The text of the treaty was agreed upon by the parties in March, after 15 years of discussion and four years of formal negotiations. Since then, UN legal experts and translators have been diligently reviewing and translating the text to ensure accurate, consistent and complete transmission of the text in the six official languages of the UN. Once adopted by the UN, the treaty needs to be ratified by at least 60 UN member states to enter into force.

Scientists are increasingly recognizing the importance of the oceans to human life. They produce most of the oxygen we breathe every day, and help limit climate change by absorbing CO2 emissions. In addition, the oceans are also home to biodiverse areas, with microscopic organisms. In the journal The Lancet, a group of scientists emphasized that: “Healthy oceans, from coastal waters to high seas and deep seas, are indispensable for human health, well-being and survival.”

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (center) speaks at the intergovernmental meeting to ratify the treaty to protect international waters, in New York (USA) on June 19, 2023. Photo: THX/TTXVN

Currently, most marine protected areas are located within the territorial waters of UN member states. The treaty would extend environmental protection beyond countries’ exclusive economic zones (EEZs), which extend 200 nautical miles (370 km) from their baselines. More than 60 percent of the ocean lies outside the EEZ. The treaty also requires studies of the environmental impacts of activities such as deep-sea exploration and mining.

This document is also considered an important element in global efforts to protect 30% of the world's land and sea area by 2030, also known as the 30x30 initiative, adopted by countries at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Montreal (Canada) in December 2022.

The treaty also establishes principles for sharing the benefits of “marine genetic resources” (MGR) acquired through scientific research in international waters, a sticking point that nearly caused negotiations to collapse at the last minute in March.

Observers say it will not be difficult for the treaty to receive ratification from at least 60 UN member states. Although the treaty is a major step forward in establishing management of international waters, there are still many issues to discuss regarding its implementation.

Source: https://dttg.baotainguyenmoitruong.vn/lien-hop-quoc-thong-qua-hiep-uoc-bao-ve-cac-vung-bien-quoc-te-359856.html