Members of the United Nations ended this Friday, without agreement, two weeks of talks on a treaty to protect biodiversity in the oceans that could address growing environmental and economic problems.
After 15 years, including four previous formal meetings, the negotiators still have not reached a legally binding agreement on growing environmental and economic issues in the high seas, also known as international waters, an area that covers almost half of the planet.
“While we have made excellent progress, we still need a little more time to get there,” said conference president Rena Lee.
Now it’s in the hands of the General Assembly UN to resume the fifth session on a date yet to be determined.
Many had hoped that this was the fifth meeting, which began on August 15 at the headquarters UNbe the last to produce a final text on “the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction” (BBNJ).
“While it is disappointing that the treaty has not been finalized in the past two weeks of negotiations, we remain encouraged by the process that has taken place,” said Liz Karan of the NGO Pew Charitable Trusts, calling for a new session by the end of the year.
Greenpeace was tougher, especially on developed countries such as the United States or countries in the European Union, which it accused of trying to act at the last minute.
“Time is running out,” said Laura Moeller, who is in charge of the oceans at the NGO. “As countries continue to speak out, the oceans and those who depend on them suffer,” he said in a statement.
One of the most delicate issues is the distribution of possible benefits from the development of genetic resources in international waters, where pharmaceutical, chemical and cosmetic companies hope to find drugs, products or medicines.
This costly marine exploration is largely the preserve of rich countries, but developing countries do not want to be left out of the potential profit from marine resources that no one owns.
“Missed Opportunity”
Similar North-South problems arise in other international negotiations, such as those on climate change, when developing countries feel that global warming is hurting them more and are trying in vain to get richer countries to help offset the damage.
The high seas begin at the border of states’ exclusive economic zones (EEZs), which under international law extend up to 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) from the coast of each country and are not under the jurisdiction of any state. .
60% oceans world fall into this category.
And while healthy marine ecosystems are critical to the future of humanity, especially in curbing global warming, only 1% of international waters are protected.
One of the key pillars of a possible treaty is to allow the creation of marine protected areas, which many countries expect will cover 30% of the oceans by 2030.
“Without establishing protection in this vast area, we will not be able to achieve our ambitious and necessary goal,” said US State Department spokeswoman Maxine Burkett.
But delegations still disagree on the process for establishing these protected areas, nor on how to implement the requirement for an environmental impact assessment before starting a new activity on the high seas.
“What a missed opportunity…” tweeted Claudia Kremers, a researcher at the IDDRI think tank, which, like many other NGOs, has observer status at the talks.
(According to AFP)
OUR PODCASTS
“Espacio Vital”: Dr. Julio Ruiz, director general of the National Center for Epidemiology, Prevention and Control of Diseases (CDC) of the Ministry of Health, said it is possible that at the same time that the monkeypox outbreak began in Europe, it began in our country. He argued that cases of monkeypox are detected at an early stage and are likely to begin to decline in the coming days. With regard to monkeypox vaccines, he said that Peru had already signed a contract for the purchase of 9,000 doses.
Source: RPP
I’m Liza Grey, an experienced news writer and author at the Buna Times. I specialize in writing about economic issues, with a focus on uncovering stories that have a positive impact on society. With over seven years of experience in the news industry, I am highly knowledgeable about current events and the ways in which they affect our daily lives.