GREENPEACE: "a historic moment"
The international agreement reached for the protection of the oceans
NEW YORK, 05.03.23 – After nearly twenty years of negotiations, tonight the Member States of the United Nations have finally agreed on a Global Treaty on the Protection of the OceansThe text will now undergo editorial corrections and translation before being adopted at a subsequent session. This treaty is a monumental victory for ocean protection and an important sign that multilateralism still works in an increasingly divided world.
The Global Ocean Treaty gives a concrete opportunity to30×30 lens: to protect 30 percent of the oceans by 2030. The text, the result of intense negotiations, nevertheless presents some critical points and it is now up to governments to ratify the treaty as soon as possible and therefore implement it quickly, effectively and fairly.
«This is a historic moment for the protection of nature and oceans"And it is also a sign that in an increasingly divided world, the protection of nature and people can triumph over geopolitical calculations," says Laura Meller of Greenpeace. "We congratulate all countries for reaching a compromise, putting aside their different positions and producing a treaty that will allow us to protect the sea, increase our resistance to climate changes and protect the lives and well-being of billions of people."
The timeframe for achieving the 30×30 goal
For Greenpeace, however, now is the time to move from words to action: a rapid ratification is necessary to allow the treaty to enter into force soon and therefore begin to create those sanctuaries useful for protecting the oceans We need it. We have little time to reach the 30x30 goal, and we can't waste time.
Collaboration between Europe, the United States, and China is essential for the agreement to protect the oceans.
and other industrial activities.
The High Ambition Coalition, which includes the European Union, the United States, and China, played a key role in closing the agreement, demonstrating a willingness to cooperate and seek compromise in the final days of negotiations, seeking allies rather than sowing divisions. The countries of the Island State Group (Small Island States) have shown leadership throughout the process and the G77 group of countries, which includes most other states, has led the process to ensure that the treaty can be implemented in a fair and just manner.
This agreement can help stop deep sea mining
Now the countries, including Italy, must reach in time the 30×30 lens: rapid ratification of the Treaty is needed, followed by the creation of an effective network of sanctuaries to protect the entire sea, both within and beyond territorial waters. Furthermore, it is important to leverage this success to stop old and new threats – such as mining exploitation of the ocean depths, the so-called Deep Sea Mining – and put marine protection at the center. Over five and a half million people globally have signed Greenpeace's petition calling for a strong Global Ocean Treaty: this is a victory for all of them.
Press office Greenpeace Italy
