MTI published that the final text of the convention aimed at preserving the biodiversity of international waters was finalized in March 2023 and officially adopted by the United Nations in June. The Convention is assigned a key role in protecting 30 percent of land and marine area by 2030 (“30-30”).
Signatory countries include the United States, Australia, Great Britain, France, Germany, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Mexico, Norway, Fiji and the European Union.
A nemzetközi vizek ott kezdődnek, ahol véget ér az egyes államok exkluzív gazdasági övezete, legfeljebb 200 tengeri mérföldre (370 kilométerre) a partoktól, amelyekre egyetlen országnak sincs joghatósága.
Although this region makes up nearly half of the Earth’s surface and more than 60% of the oceans, it has long been neglected in the struggle to protect the environment.
Jelenleg a nemzetközi vizek mindössze egy százaléka esik védelem alá.
For the Convention to enter into force, it is also necessary for the parliaments of the signatory countries to ratify the document. The Convention enters into force 120 days after its 60th ratification. “I can’t believe I’m here and I see so much hope and determination to change the way we think about the ocean, to change it from a big trash can that everyone uses to a place that we protect and respect.” American actress Sigourney Weaver told Agence France-Presse, during a break in the meeting of the signatory countries, that the discussion took place on the sidelines of the currently held high-level session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“By signing the International Waters Convention, we can protect the oceans from human-caused pressures and move closer to our goal of protecting at least 30 percent of our planet by 2030,” said Virginius Sinkevicius, EU Environment Commissioner. What he called the “Constitution of the Ocean” was called the Compact.
The agreement specifies protected areas in which fishing is prohibited and requires the preparation of impact studies on the environmental impacts of human activities in international waters.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimates that $500 million (181 billion forints) will be needed to start the agreement, and implementing the special objectives and creating the necessary conditions will cost an additional $100 million. every year.
Threats to the ocean environment have increased from overfishing and rising temperatures, and new threats may arise from seabed mining or geoengineering techniques deployed to increase the ocean’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide.
According to environmental organizations, the agreement must be fully implemented by 2025 at the latest to achieve “30-30” protection.
