But what is this "historic" agreement on the high seas?

• UN member states have reached agreement on a first international treaty to protect the high seas, after more than fifteen years of discussions, including four years of formal negotiations.
• This treaty, which will enter into force after being formally adopted, signed and ratified by a sufficient number of countries, will create marine protected areas in international waters.
• 20 Minutes takes stock of this agreement, which is described as historic, when only 1% of the high seas, which represent 60% of the oceans and nearly half of the planet, has so far been subject to conservation measures.

Good news for the high seas. This area, which begins no more than 370 kilometres from the coast, represents more than 60% of the oceans and almost half of the planet. However, this vast expanse of water was very little legally regulated, long ignored by the environmental fight. It will soon be able to be properly protected. On Saturday evening in New York, more than 100 member states reached an agreement at UN headquarters on the first international treaty to protect the high seas. His goal? Removing threats to ecosystems essential to humanity. 20 Minutes goes back in detail on this important agreement.

What is the high seas?

The high seas begin where the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of States stop, a maximum of 200 nautical miles (370 km) from the coast and are therefore not under the jurisdiction of any State. It represents more than 60% of the oceans and almost half of the planet, but only 1% has so far been subject to conservation measures. The high seas, "it is a lawless zone, a big half of the planet where there are no laws, where we can, for example, dump toxic products because it does not belong to anyone," explained last February to 20 Minutes André Abreu, director of international policies of the Tara Ocean Foundation.

Often neglected by environmental debates, in favor of coastal areas and some emblematic spaces, the high seas are full of abundant microscopic biodiversity. A major challenge for the planet, as the oceans absorb a significant part of the CO2 emitted by human activities. This emblematic tool is also considered essential to hope to protect 2030% of land and oceans by 30, as committed to by all the governments of the planet in December at the COP15 on biodiversity. "Protected high seas areas can play a critical role in building resilience to the effects of climate change," said Liz Karan of the Pew Charitable Trusts. Hence the importance of this treaty.

What does the agreement say?

The exact content of the text has not yet been published. Several subjects were addressed in the discussions and the agreement should make it possible to fight against the weakening of the oceans, attacked by global warming, pollution or overfishing. First, it proposes better legal protection for an area that represents, it is not said enough, 60% of the surface of the oceans. Secondly, the agreement provides for "the obligation to carry out environmental impact assessments" during planned activities on the high seas. Marine protected areas will be established in international waters.

Above all, the treaty has regulated the management of resources on the high seas, which belong to no one but are monopolized by rich countries, which can afford to organize expensive research in these areas. Marine genetic resources are extracted and used by pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies. Developing countries insisted during the negotiations that these resources be equitably shared.

On Friday, March 3, at the end of the "Our Ocean" conference in Panama, countries pledged nearly $20 billion to protect the oceans. The United States has pledged six billion dollars, and the European Union more than 860 million dollars. The agreement will thus make it possible to align political acts with the objectives set by COP15 in Montreal and mentioned above: to protect 30% of all land and oceans by 2030.

When will it come into effect?

That is the whole point. The agreement must first be dissected by the legal services of the United Nations, then it must be translated into the official languages of the international organization (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish). During the discussions, the European Union pledged €40 million to facilitate the implementation of the treaty and its ratification. The agreement must also be ratified by a significant number of countries. For the time being, therefore, it does not enter into force until all these steps have been completed.

Why is this agreement historic?

This agreement on the protection of the high seas is the epilogue of a fight that began more than fifteen years ago, including four years of official discussions. Each actor defended its interests and, as in other international forums, including the climate negotiations, the debate ended up boiling down to a question of equity between two North/South blocs. But now, at the end of a third "last" session of intense fortnight of negotiations, "there will be no reopening or substantive discussions," said Rena Lee, to the loud and prolonged applause of the delegates. A president of the Intergovernmental Conference who announced, in tears, the good news Saturday night in New York, with these words: "the ship has reached the shore."

After two weeks of intense discussions, including a marathon session on the night of Friday to Saturday, delegates have finalized a text that can no longer be significantly modified. And to note its historic character, it is necessary to take stock of the reactions of the defenders of the cause who unanimously welcomed the agreement. "This is a historic day for conservation and a sign that in a divided world the protection of nature and people can triumph over geopolitics. We applaud countries for seeking compromises, putting aside differences and developing a treaty that will allow us to protect the oceans," said Laura Meller, ocean campaigner for Greenpeace Nordic. While hailing "a huge victory," Greenpeace France called on governments to "ensure that the treaty is put into practice effectively and fairly."

We have not given up anything to achieve this: the commitment that was made last night in New York is historic! UN member states say yes to an international treaty to protect the high seas. It is more than half of the surface of the planet that we will save.

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) March 5, 2023

Access to this content has been blocked in order to respect your choice of consent

By clicking on "I ACCEPT", you accept the deposit of cookies by external services and will thus have access to the content of our partners

I AGREE

And to better pay 20 Minutes, do not hesitate to accept all cookies, even for one day only, via our button "I accept for today" in the banner below.

More information on the Cookie Policy page.

On the political side, the reactions are unanimous. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hailed a "victory for multilateralism and global efforts to counter the destructive trends that threaten ocean health, now and for generations to come." Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius welcomed this "crucial step to preserve marine life and biodiversity that are essential for us and future generations" on behalf of the European Union.

• World
• UN
• Planet