Reacción a "Reactions: Oceans Treaty goes ahead after more than 15 years of negotiations"

This is a historic agreement that comes after 17 long years of discussions by States at the United Nations. This treaty will allow us to implement marine protected areas in international waters and thus protect marine biodiversity, meeting the so-called 30x30 target (protection of 30% of the ocean by 2030), the minimum necessary to reverse the dramatic loss of marine biodiversity.   

The treaty will enable us to conduct environmental impact assessments in regions beyond international jurisdiction, which account for two-thirds of the entire ocean. Maritime transport, for example, accounts for 90% by volume of world trade.  The treaty will also allow us to organise the exploitation of marine genetic resources in such a way that the benefits accrue to all countries, which are collectively their moral owners.  

And finally, this international agreement will allow us to fulfil the eternal promise of capacity building for developing countries, including the transfer of marine technology from more developed countries. This transfer will allow them, for example, to do their own research on marine genetic resources and their own environmental impact assessments.  

It has been a long 17 years and the treaty has room for improvement, but to quote Noam Chomsky, when the choices are to abandon hope, ensuring that the worst will happen, or to seize the opportunities that exist and contribute to a better world, the choice is not a difficult one. Today we have seen the best side of the United Nations.