WORLD NEWS | UN agrees to high seas treaty to protect marine life

New York [US]China News Service, March 6, according to the United Nations, the member states of the United Nations finally agreed to a legally binding “high seas treaty” to protect marine life in international waters, which is a fragile and important treasure covering nearly half of the earth. .

“This action is a victory for multilateralism and a global effort to address the damage facing ocean health,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement issued by his spokesman Saturday night after the UN adopted the agreement. The triumph of sexual trends, now and for generations to come”.

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The agreement reached by representatives of the Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, better known by its acronym BBNJ, was the culmination of UN-hosted talks that began in 2004.

The deal was signed after two weeks of negotiations at UN Headquarters in New York that ended with a mammoth meeting of more than 36 hours – but it had been 20 years in the making.

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“The ship has docked,” said meeting chairwoman Li Na Li on Saturday night after the UN member states agreed.

According to the United Nations, the legal framework of the “Treaty on the High Seas” will include 30% of the world’s oceans into protected areas, invest more funds in marine protection, and cover the acquisition and use of marine genetic resources.

Through his spokesman, Guterres said the treaty was essential to address the triple global crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.

“It is also critical to achieving the ocean-related goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework,” the statement said, referring to the so-called “30×30” pledge to protect a third of the ocean . The world’s terrestrial and marine biodiversity by 2030 was set at last December’s historic United Nations conference in Montreal.

The Secretary-General also acknowledged the important support of non-governmental organizations, civil society, academic institutions and the scientific community, said a statement issued by a UN spokesperson.

In response to the agreement, Csaba Korosi, the 77th President of the UN General Assembly, tweeted, “Congratulations to all delegates and #IGC Chair Rena Lee for reaching consensus on a global legal framework for the high seas #BBNJ.”

He added: “This is a tremendous success for multilateralism. It is an example of the need for change in our world and the need for change in the people we serve.” (Arney)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the body of content may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)