At the third UN Ocean Conference in Nice, UN Secretary General António Guterres urged world leaders to ratify the High Seas Treaty, adopted in 2023, to establish protected marine areas in international waters. He warned that human activity, including illegal fishing and plastic pollution, is destroying ocean ecosystems, while noting the U.S. has not ratified the treaty and will not do so during the conference.
UN treaty aims to protect international waters and their inhabitants
United NationsEnvironmentRising sea levelsTreaties
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At the third UN Ocean Conference in Nice, UN Secretary General António Guterres urged world leaders to ratify the High Seas Treaty, adopted in 2023, to establish protected marine areas in international waters. He warned that human activity, including illegal fishing and plastic pollution, is destroying ocean ecosystems, while noting the U.S. has not ratified the treaty and will not do so during the conference.
Trending- 1 2023: The High Seas Treaty is adopted.
- 2 Sunday (recent): Prince William makes a statement on protecting the planet's oceans.
- 3 Monday (recent): The third UN Ocean Conference opens in Nice; UN Secretary General António Guterres urges world leaders to ratify the treaty.
- 4 Ongoing: 50 countries have ratified the treaty, and another 15 have promised to do so.
- 5 Before end of the year: The treaty is expected to come into force once 60 countries ratify it.
- Potential for increased protection of nearly two-thirds of the ocean
- Continued challenges due to lack of full ratification, particularly from the U.S.
- Ongoing destruction of ocean ecosystems if the treaty is not widely implemented
What: The third UN Ocean Conference and the call for nations to ratify the High Seas Treaty to protect international waters.
When: Monday (conference opening); 2023 (treaty adopted); Sunday (Prince William's statement); Before the end of the year (expected treaty enforcement).
Where: Nice, France (conference location); International waters (high seas).
Why: To combat the destruction of ocean ecosystems caused by illegal fishing, plastic pollution, rising sea temperatures, and ocean acidification, and to establish protected marine areas in largely unregulated international waters.
How: Through international treaty ratification, with the goal of 60 countries ratifying the treaty to bring it into force, and by establishing marine parks.