#high seas biodiversity treaty

[edouardstenger]

The United Nations' High Seas Treaty is a critical step to protecting our oceans

Earlier this month, nations finally agreed on the High Seas Treaty and it's hailed as an historical event. Let's see why.

Coming together to protect Nature is a key element to making sure we have a future as a species and that other species not only survive but thrive in the coming decades and centuries. This is why the United Nations have worked for almost 20 years on protecting the high seas, its biodiversity and providing oversight of international waters. Earlier this month, nations finally agreed on this and…

[reasonsforhope]

It has been almost two decades in the making, but late on Saturday night in New York, after days of gruelling round-the-clock talks, UN member states finally agreed on a treaty to protect the high seas.

A full day after the deadline for talks had officially passed, the conference president, Rena Lee of Singapore, took to the floor of room 2 of the UN headquarters in New York and announced that the treaty had been agreed. At a later date, the delegates will meet for half a day to formally adopt the text. She made it clear the text would not be reopened.

“In Singapore, we like to go on learning journeys, and this has been the learning journey of a lifetime,” Lee said.

She thanked delegates for their dedication and commitment. “The success is also yours,” she told them.

She received cheers and a standing ovation from delegates in the room who had not left the conference hall for two days and worked through the night in order to get the deal done.

Pictured: The Intergovernmental Conference on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction congratulating its President, Ambassador Rena Lee, on the successful conclusion of the BBNJ treaty.

The historic treaty is crucial for enforcing the 30x30 pledge made by countries at the UN biodiversity conference in December, to protect a third of the sea (and land) by 2030. Without a treaty, this target would certainly fail, as until now no legal mechanism existed to set up MPAs [Marine Protected Areas] on the high seas.

Ocean ecosystems produce half the oxygen we breathe, represent 95% of the planet’s biosphere and soak up carbon dioxide, as the world’s largest carbon sink. Yet until now, fragmented and loosely enforced rules governing the high seas have rendered this area more susceptible than coastal waters to exploitation.

Veronica Frank, political adviser for Greenpeace, said that while the organisation hadn’t seen the latest text, “We are really happy. The world is so divided and to see multilateralism supported is so important.

“What’s really important is now to use this tool to develop this 30x30 target into force really quickly.” ...

Pictured: Activists from Greenpeace display a banner before the United Nations headquarters during ongoing negotiations at the UN on a treaty to protect the high seas in New York

“High seas marine protected areas can play a critical role in the impacts of climate change,” said Liz Karan, director of Pew’s ocean governance project. “Governments and civil society must now ensure the agreement is adopted and rapidly enters into force and is effectively implemented to safeguard high seas biodiversity.”

The High Ambition Coalition – which includes the EU, US, UK and China – were key players in brokering the deal, building coalitions instead of sowing division and showing willingness to compromise in the final days of talks. The Global South led the way in ensuring the treaty could be put into practice in a fair and equitable way.

Pictured: A world map that shows the full breadth and potential impact of the treat. National waters are shown in white, and international waters, or the high seas, are everything shown in blue.

Michael Imran Kanu, the head of the African Group and ambassador and deputy permanent representative to the UN for legal affairs of Sierra Leone, said the treaty was “robust and ambitious”. Kanu, who expressed concerns during talks over the fair and equitable sharing of benefits, said: “We really achieved amazing results” on this issue. Monetary and non-monetary benefits would be shared and an initial upfront fund would be set up under the treaty. He welcomed the adoption of the “common heritage of humankind” as a key principle for the high seas, which was a red line for many developing states. “That was significant for us”, he said...

In a move seen as an attempt to build trust between rich and poor countries, the European Union pledged €40m ($42m) in New York to facilitate the ratification of the treaty and its early implementation.

Monica Medina, the US assistant secretary for oceans, international environment and scientific affairs, who attended the negotiations in New York, said: “We leave here with the ability to create protected areas in the high seas and achieve the ambitious goal of conserving 30% of the ocean by 2030. And the time to start is now.”

-via The Guardian (US), 3/4/23

[covid-safer-hotties]

Why the next pandemic could come from the Arctic — and what to do about it - Published Sept 4, 2024

By: Christian Sonne

Only a unified approach across disciplines can reduce the underappreciated threat of emerging diseases arising in the north.

The Arctic is under stress, that much is known. Between 1979 and 2021, the region warmed four times faster than the global average, with effects — as yet poorly understood — on its ecology and ability to store carbon, on global sea levels and on wider ocean-circulation and weather patterns.

Add in the effects of biodiversity loss and pollution, and people often refer to a triple planetary crisis. I think we should actually be talking about a quadruple crisis. Since starting research in the Arctic in 1997, I have spent nearly all of my summers there, monitoring changes in pollution levels, habitats and food webs using a ‘One Health’ approach that integrates effects on wildlife, humans and ecosystems. And it’s becoming clear that, as the Arctic warms, its environment degrades and human activities increase, new health threats are emerging. In particular, the Arctic is likely to become a hotbed for zoonotic diseases that spill over into humans from other animals. That threat was brought home to all of us by the COVID-19 pandemic. We need to take seriously the possibility that the next pandemic could come from the north.

Some 60% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic. Their emergence and spillover is in general highly interlinked with habitat degradation, biodiversity loss and food-web changes — all of which are present in the Arctic. But a warming Arctic harbours other risks. As sea ice thaws, ‘forever chemicals’ are increasingly being transported into Arctic environments. These include mercury, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and polychlorinated biphenyls, all known to modulate human and animal immune systems and increase vulnerability to respiratory infections. Invasive fish and whale species are also bringing in industrial chemicals and their own diseases.

The pathogens enter an environment in which some native species, such as polar bears (Ursus maritimus), have not been exposed to them, and so are at increased risk. The release of ancient microorganisms long frozen in ice and sediments as the landscape thaws adds to this danger: humans and other wildlife are likely to lack any immune defences against them.

These risk factors are set to increase. The first ice-free Arctic summers could come as early as the 2030s. The Arctic Ocean has huge potential for energy, fishery and tourism sectors, and is not subject to any global treaty regulating its exploitation. Further wildlife disturbance, pollution, overfishing and jurisdictional conflicts are the likely result.

The current perception is that the Arctic possesses relatively low microbial activity. Compared with temperate and tropical latitudes, many fewer resources are devoted to studying zoonoses in the Arctic, with sparse surveillance for emerging threats in most areas. This needs to change — taking account of human, animal and wider environmental perspectives.

When it comes to logistics, low-tech is high-tech in the Arctic. On the human side, Canadian researchers have already started taking samples from sewage and other sources that can easily be analysed for the presence of viral pathogens. This kind of approach should be combined with better access to community health care, clinical inspections and consultations with local doctors. A particular flash point is the handling and consumption of raw or dried animal meat in subsistence-hunting communities. Hygiene courses, meat inspection and better disease surveillance developed in partnership with those communities can help to both sustain food security and prevent spillover events.

On the wildlife side, long-term finance is needed for yearly and seasonal surveillance programmes. These schemes should collaborate with local communities using existing techniques that don’t rely on technologies such as cryogenics and so are easy to use in situ. Such activities could be embedded into the ongoing Arctic Council monitoring and assessment programmes on pollution, biodiversity and climate change, as laid out in the council’s ‘One Arctic, One Health’ project.

On the broader environmental front, efforts to reduce pollution, safeguard biodiversity and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions through international agreements play their part. Efforts spearheaded by various Arctic Council working groups, and other initiatives such as the ongoing negotiations for a United Nations-backed treaty on plastic pollution, show how intergovernmental and interdisciplinary collaboration across public health, biodiversity conservation, pollution and food security can help with achieving sustainability.

To make a true difference, there is need for a broader Arctic monitoring and assessment plan, underpinned by treaty, that combines surveillance of pollution and of disease. This is currently difficult to achieve through the Arctic Council, given the absence of Russia and Russian data since the country’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. A better opportunity to establish a holistic understanding and action plan might be afforded by the proposed pandemic-preparedness treaty, currently under negotiation at the World Health Organization. This could build on the efforts of almost 200 globally recognized One Health Networks, including those in the Arctic.

Action must be taken now. If it isn’t, it will become more difficult to mitigate wildlife interactions and diagnose, treat and isolate people with an infection — and the risk of a future pandemic with an Arctic ground zero will only increase.

Nature 633, 10 (2024)

doi: doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-02830-7

[kp777]

Map locating the Salas y Gomez and Nazca submarine mountain ranges and Chilean offshore sites.

From the article:

In international waters off the coasts of Chile and Peru, the ocean teems with plant and animal species—some do not exist anywhere else and many are endangered.

Urgently seeking to prevent biodiversity loss in these waters, Chile is pushing for a new marine protected area (MPA) to be created, and hoping to seal the deal during an upcoming summit at UN headquarters in New York.

[....]

A 2021 study in the academic journal Marine Policy said the high seas areas of the Salas y Gomez and Nazca ridges are "under threat from a variety of stressors, including climate change, plastic pollution, overfishing, and potential deep-sea mining in the future."

As UN member states meet in New York next week in the hopes of finalizing a long-awaited treaty on high seas protection, Chile has already started work on having the area around the two ridges declared an MPA (Marine Protected Area).

It could become the world's first, but time is of the essence.

[....]

Read more.

[follow-up-news]

Nations agree on ‘world-changing’ deal to protect ocean life

More than 190 countries have reached a landmark deal for protecting the biodiversity of the world’s oceans, agreeing for the first time on a common framework for establishing new protected areas in international waters.

The treaty, whose text was finalized Saturday night by diplomats at the U.N. headquartersafter years of stalled talks, will help safeguard the high seas, which lie beyond national boundaries and make up two-thirds of Earth’s ocean surface. Member states have been trying to agree on the long-awaited treaty for almost 20 years.

Environmental advocacy groups heralded the finalized text — which still needs to be ratified by the United Nations — as a new chapter for Earth’s high seas. Just 1.2 percent of them are currently environmentally protected, exposing the vast array of marine species that teem beneath the surface — from tiny plankton to giant whales — to threats such as pollution, overfishing, shipping and deep-sea mining.

“Two-thirds of the ocean has just been exposed to the will and want of all,” said Rebecca Hubbard, the director of the High Seas Alliance consortium of nongovernmental organizations that participated in the negotiations, in a telephone interview Sunday. “We have never been able to protect and manage marine life in the ocean beyond countries’ jurisdictions,” she said. “This is absolutely world-changing.”

Despite U.N. members agreeing to a final version of the text, it is expected to take years for the treaty to be formally adopted by member states and come into force. The United States, in particular, is often slow to ratify environmental treaties — and often will decline to approve them at all.

Read the article: https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/03/05/un-ocean-treaty-high-seas/

[environmentalwatch]

Unified Treaty for High Seas

UN Drafts Environmental Protection Treaty for High Seas

A unified treaty to protect open ocean biodiversity has been signed by the nations of the UN, for the first time. In 1944, the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea was enacted, protecting international rights at sea and putting into place a few environmental laws, mostly about dumping waste. It has only been occasionally updated since. But for the past twenty years, a new framework to protect…

[atlanticcanada]

High hopes for historic UN agreement to protect high seas

Environmentalists near and far are applauding a landmark United Nations treaty to establish protections on international waters for the first time.

“Personally, it just makes me really happy to see this going ahead,” says Claire Goodwin, a marine biodiversity research scientist at the Huntsman Marine Science Centre in St. Andrews, N.B. “It’s really exciting for marine conservation.”

The treaty aims to increase protections of the high seas – parts of the world’s oceans beyond any nation’s boundaries – from 1.2 per cent to 30 per cent. More funding is also part of the treaty.

“We really need these protected areas,” says Goodwin. “We think about 10 per cent of marine species are endangered and likely to become extinct. We need these areas, to protect them and conserve them.”

Discussions for a UN agreement began in 2004.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the ship has reached the shore,” said Singapore Ambassador Rena Lee on Saturday, confirming the deal to a standing ovation at UN Headquarters in New York.

Securing this UN agreement is as a critical component of the COP15 agreement, made in Montreal last December, to protect 30 per cent of land and marine areas by 2030.

“Getting an agreement between all the different parties to come up with this treaty is a really big achievement,” says Goodwin. “There were some countries that didn’t want fishing included in these marine protected areas and obviously that’s a big impact in marine communities, and it really should be included.”

“This is going to require quite a bit of research into working out where the protected areas should be and making sure they’re well connected, because species move around in the ocean. You want to make sure there’s good connectivity between these different areas, and working out what species and habitats we want to protect in the high seas.”

Goodwin says the treaty’s requirement for environmental impact assessments within protected areas will also be helpful.

“So things like deep sea mining and fishing, which are going on at the moment but maybe not fully regulated, there will be good impact assessments in the future to make sure these activities are sustainable and won’t adversely affect marine environments.”

from CTV News - Atlantic https://ift.tt/35yYRSg

[timothymccoyboston]

The Role of Boaters in Ocean Conservation

The ocean is paramount to the planet's ecological balance and the survival of all life, yet threats to its health and ecosystems continue to mount. From pollution to overfishing, marine life and habitats are in peril. Although local regulations and international treaties offer some protection, approximately 64 percent of ocean waters lie outside of territorial limits. As frequent visitors to vital ocean environments within and beyond governable areas, boaters have a role to play in ocean conservation.

Boaters must understand their potential impact on the health of marine ecosystems. Unintentional habitat damage can occur through practices such as improper anchoring, which can tear up delicate seabeds and damage coral reefs. Additionally, boaters may contribute to pollution through accidental fuel spills, the discharge of sewage and wastewater, and the discarding of plastic waste. These actions, while seemingly small-scale on an individual basis, have a cumulative effect on the fragile balance of marine life. Research also indicates that between 20 and 30 percent of plastic waste in the ocean originates from human activities at sea.

However, by adopting responsible boating practices, boaters can limit their impact on marine environments. Properly disposing of waste and using designated pump-out stations for sewage decreases the amount of pollutants entering the sea, and utilizing cleaner-burning fuels helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change and ocean acidification. Boaters can also choose environmentally friendly cleaning products and boat paints to further minimize their environmental footprint.

Conscientious boating is another key practice of responsible boaters. Motorized watercraft present numerous threats to ocean environments beyond accidental collisions with marine animals and damage to coral reef structures. Traveling through sensitive marine areas at high speeds can disrupt marine life, stir up sediment that obstructs visibility for bottom-dwellers, and compromise seagrass. Keeping a respectful distance from marine animals and maintaining low speeds around coral reefs, near marine sanctuaries, and in designated no-wake zones can prevent such harm.

In addition to mitigating their own impact, boaters can directly participate in ocean conservation efforts by serving as citizen scientists. Spending time at sea effectively positions boaters to collect information on floating debris and marine wildlife. Such data is critical for ocean clean-up endeavors, as well as research relevant to ocean health and conservation. For instance, researchers leverage reports on the type, quantity, and location of plastic and other debris floating in the ocean to better understand how and where waste accumulates.

Similarly, boaters who report sightings of marine wildlife to scientific organizations and conservation groups support the monitoring and protection of ocean environments and their inhabitants. By reporting encounters with specific species, boaters contribute to research on marine biodiversity, the health of endangered species, and the migration patterns of key marine animals.

Involvement in conservation efforts extends beyond individual actions. Boaters can encourage responsible practices among their peers by sharing information about sustainable boating techniques and conservation initiatives. Their knowledge and firsthand experiences also enable them to bolster advocacy for improved ecological awareness and amplify calls for change in commercial operations like marina management. With over 25,000 marinas and over 25 million recreational boats in use worldwide, marinas represent a significant contributor to ocean pollution.

With their unique vantage point and direct connection to the ocean, boaters have the capacity to be instrumental in ensuring its continued health and prosperity.

[tfgadgets]

Beyond Borders: India to sigh UN high seas treaty on protection of marine biodiversity | India News

NEW DELHI: India will sign a global ‘High Seas Treaty’ – called Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement – that will allow the country to enhance its strategic presence in areas beyond its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).The Agreement is an international treaty under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. It aims to address the growing concerns over the long-term…

[filaantrocrowdfunding]

Highlights of 2023: Strides That Humanity Achieved in the Year

As we slowly ride to the culmination of 2023, it is time to look back at the year. The year of 2023 brought a lot of headlines. India being on the verge of winning the ICC Men’s World Cup shattered the hearts of millions. Meanwhile, Greta Gerwig’s Barbie and Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer clashed at the box office, creating a phenomenon that would shatter most box office records. Social Media sites were re-branded and concert films were all the rage with Eras Tour becoming a huge success.

With our diary of 2023 almost finished, we would like to look at some of the positive news that rekindles our hope for humanity. These happenings of 2023 prove that even during the most dire of circumstances, humans would strive to achieve newer heights.

Launch and Landing of Chandrayaan-3

On 23rd August, 2023, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) made everyone proud by landing Chandrayaan-3 near the lunar south pole of the moon. The objective of the mission is to help discover the physical characteristics of the surface of the Moon, the atmosphere close to the surface and the tectonic activity to study what goes on below the surface.

While people cheer and hoot for men’s sports, women’s sports have been looked down upon throughout history. However, things seem to be changing as 2023 provided a new hope for female athletes all over the world. Women’s sports saw record viewership. The trend was observed in the Women’s FIFA World Cup and 2023 US Open — Women’s singles. The FIFA World Cup saw 2 million people attending stadiums and an estimated 2 billion people watched the World Cup from their homes, cheering on their teams. Meanwhile, the US Open women’s final featuring Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka drew more viewership than the men’s finals which included Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev. Coco Gauff vs Aryna Sabalenka was watched by 3.4 million viewers, while Novak Djokovic vs Daniil Medvedev was watched by 2.3 million viewers. We hope that similar trends get observed in all women’s sporting events.

The World Health Organization (WHO) approved a malaria vaccine that will make it accessible to poorer countries. The vaccine has been developed by Oxford University. The vaccine was said to reduce symptomatic cases by 75%, according to WHO. The vaccine only costs $2–4 per dose, making it possible to finally eliminate the disease.

In the United Nations (UN) meeting in New York, the Treaty of the High Seas, aka Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction, was signed on 20th September, 2023 by 84 countries. The treaty will establish large-scale marine protected areas on the high seas to effectively conserve and manage 30% of land and sea. It also includes rules for conducting environmental impact assessments.

According to the data released by Brazil’s National Space Research Institute (INPE), deforestation in Brazil fell by 33.6% in the Amazon Rainforest. The President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has vowed to end deforestation by 2030. With its current upward momentum, we wish Brazil achieves its target and proves to the world that environmental stability is possible in today’s globalizing world.

Filaantro also had a monumental year. With its crowdfunding partner, Child Help Foundation, Filaantro helped 23,62,704 people. Thank you for reading this article. Make sure to share it with all your friends and family members.

[thxnews]

Philippines Champions Rules-Based Global Order

  Diplomatic Plea at the United Nations General Assembly

In a stirring appeal made at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the Philippines, voiced through Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, acting on behalf of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., passionately implored member nations to unite in safeguarding the indispensable rules-based global order. Manalo, with unwavering conviction, underscored the profound shared responsibility to preserve this vital framework. It is anchored in international law and guided by the enduring principles of equity and justice, a call to action resonating across borders.   A Pledge for Peace Amidst Disputes The Philippines reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful dispute resolution in collaboration with other nations. Notably, Secretary Manalo addressed the ongoing issue with China concerning the West Philippine Sea. He asserted, "This has always been our position with respect to the disputes in the West Philippine Sea, inasmuch as we are prepared to defend our sovereignty, sovereign rights, and territorial integrity."  

A Friend to All, Enemy to None

Quoting President Marcos Jr., Manalo reiterated the Philippines' stance as "a friend to all and enemy to none." He highlighted the nation's constitutional commitment to renounce war as a tool of national policy, embracing principles of international law, peace, equality, justice, freedom, cooperation, and amity with all nations.   Upholding International Agreements Manalo, in a resolute manner, underscored the unwavering dedication of the Philippines to the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Notably, he highlighted the nation's recent signing of the Treaty on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, signifying its commitment to responsible stewardship of the high seas. Furthermore, Manalo placed significant emphasis on the paramount importance of UNCLOS. In support of this assertion, he cited the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea, a historic moment that definitively settled maritime entitlements and historic rights in the region. This unequivocal stance solidifies the Philippines' adherence to international law and maritime order.  

Navigating Emerging Threats

Recognizing the peril posed by destructive and disruptive weapons, Secretary Manalo passionately called for the primacy of the rule of law in this critical matter. Furthermore, he strongly advocated for the responsible use of emerging technologies and emphatically stressed the pressing need for international cooperation. This cooperation is essential to ensure that these innovative technologies are not weaponized or misused to the detriment of global security and stability. Commitment to Sustainable Development The Philippines pledged its support for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in its long-term plans. Manalo emphasized that this commitment would open doors for cooperation, especially among middle-income countries, to advance South-South collaboration and global development goals.   Championing Human Rights and Addressing Climate Change As a member of the UN Commission on Human Rights, the Philippines firmly promised to advocate for the rights of vulnerable groups. This includes women, children, indigenous peoples, migrants, persons with disabilities, refugees, and older persons. Manalo passionately stressed the paramount importance of fostering genuine, evidence-based, and depoliticized dialogue on human rights. Turning to the critical issue of climate change, the Philippines went a step further by calling for even stronger multilateral cooperation. It emphatically urged industrialized countries to wholeheartedly fulfill their solemn obligations under both the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement. Additionally, Manalo expressed gratitude for efforts to bring state obligations related to climate change to the International Court of Justice.  

A Call for Multilateral Unity

In conclusion, Secretary Manalo urged solidarity in fostering a multilateral architecture that upholds the rule of law and addresses the challenges of our era. He emphasized the importance of investing wisely in sound, inclusive, and forward-thinking multilateral institutions that adhere to high standards of governance, equity, inclusivity, transparency, and accountability. The Philippines vowed to support such institutions in their mission.   Sources: THX News & Philippine News Agency. Read the full article

[freequizbank]

Australia signs global treaty to protect the high seas _ FreeQuizBank.com - Free Exam Practice Questions for LANTITE Numeracy, Mathematical Reasoning - OC, Selective and Scholarship Tests @acereduau #NSWeducation #AusEdu @AusGovEducation @ServiceNSW

[vprogresseducation]

Australia signs global treaty to protect the high seas _ FreeQuizBank.com - Free Exam Practice Questions for LANTITE Numeracy, Mathematical Reasoning - OC, Selective and Scholarship Tests @acereduau #NSWeducation #AusEdu @AusGovEducation @ServiceNSW

[antonio-velardo]

Antonio Velardo shares: The Importance of Protecting Ocean Life by Tatiana Schlossberg

By Tatiana Schlossberg The head of the Wildlife Conservation Society makes a case for the High Seas Treaty, which would protect ocean biodiversity and more. Published: September 20, 2023 at 02:01PM from NYT Climate https://ift.tt/JwWgOTm via IFTTT