Proposal to extend the agreement's validity for an additional three years by the Commission.
Wreakin' Havoc on the High Seas: Navigating the Current State of Ocean Conservation
In a world where uncontrolled capitalism and rampant consumerism continue to wreak havoc on our planet's oceans, recent discussions at the 3rd UN Ocean Conference in glamorous Nice, France, have shed some light on potential solutions. Hosted by France and Costa Rica since Monday, this gathering of representatives from around 170 countries aimed to tackle the pressing issues of plastic pollution, climate change, and overfishing.
Although the final document may fall short of environmentalists' dreams, progress has definitely been made. Let's dive in!
Casting a Lifeline for the High Seas
Beyond the shores of territorial waters, a vast expanse of international waters, known as the high seas, covers approximately 60 to 70 percent of the world's oceans. Sadly, there aren't many regulations to protect these waters due to the lack of international agreement. However, the High Seas Treaty, adopted by the United Nations two years ago, might just be the game-changer we've been waitin' for.
The treaty paves the way for the designation of large protected areas in the high seas and moves us one step closer to the UN goal of protecting at least 30 percent of our oceans by 2030, which is currently a measly 8 percent. Thanks to the UN Ocean Conference, we're now inching ever closer to the 60-country ratification needed for this treaty to enter into force. Germany is urged to join the ratification party, as 18 nations have already gone all-in, leaving just a few more countries to become official treaty-supporters.
Fightin' Plastic: As Bad as It Gets
The fight against plastic pollution is no walk in the park. The actual negotiations on this pressing matter will take place in August in Geneva. Wanna know the real kicker? The negotiations last year in South Korea ended without a single agreement!
During the recent UN Ocean Conference, 95 countries formed a formidable alliance against the plague of plastic. They agreed that primary plastics production must be limited and urged countries to report their productions, imports, and exports of these substances. Furthermore, they want the upcoming treaty to include the commitment to phase out the problematic plastic products and chemicals that are chokin' our oceans.
Deep-Sea Dilemma: Is It Worth the Risk?
Deep-sea mining has many folks concerned about the future of marine ecosystems. While there's currently no industrial mining in the deep sea, plans to extract valuable manganese nodules are causing a stir. Already, studies have identified significant risks to the ecosystems there, which makes one wonder if it's worth the risk.
In Nice, 24 countries, including Germany, have voiced their opposition to deep-sea mining in international waters. Why? Deep-sea resources outside national waters are considered the common heritage of mankind under international law and should only be collectively managed by the International Seabed Authority (ISA). However, the USA, under President Trump, is rumored to be considerin' deep-sea mining even in international waters. This development has raised red flags, and we can expect a heated debate at the ISA this summer, where a globally accepted framework for deep-sea mining will likely be discussed.
Other Oceanside Wins
On the topic of munition remnants in the Baltic and North Seas, Germany wants to work with France to pinpoint their exact locations. In addition, a group of states aims to intensify the fight against noise pollution in the ocean, while UNESCO wants to strengthen marine education.
However, OceanCare CEO Fabienne McLellan warns that there's still a long road ahead. "UN ocean conferences are wake-up calls for the international community to come together and achieve the goals they've set for themselves to protect the seas by 2030. But we're still far from achieving these goals."
As the world braces itself for the next UN ocean conference in 2028, hosted by South Korea and Chile, we can only hope that swift action and international cooperation will guide us towards a cleaner, healthier future for our oceans. But, hey, we sure as hell ain't holdin' our breath!
- In the pursuit of finding solutions for climate change and ocean conservation, discussions about financing and business strategies could play a vital role in achieving the UN's goal of protecting 30% of our oceans by 2030.
- The environmental science community, along with business and finance sectors, should collaborate to help limit primary plastics production and phase out problematic plastic products and chemicals that are causing harm to marine ecosystems.
- As deep-sea mining poses significant risks to marine ecosystems, the field of environmental science must continue to study its potential impact, and the international finance and business communities should carefully consider the long-term environmental implications before engaging in such activities.
