dw.com
International High Seas Treaty Nears Ratification
With Marocco and Sierra Leone's recent ratification, the UN treaty for high seas protection has reached the 60-ratification threshold, and is expected to come into force in January 2024, covering over two-thirds of the ocean.
- What is the immediate impact of the treaty reaching the required number of ratifications?
- The treaty is expected to enter into force in January 2024, after a 120-day period. This will establish legally binding rules for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, covering more than two-thirds of the global ocean.
- What are the broader implications of this treaty for ocean conservation and global biodiversity goals?
- The treaty creates protected areas in high seas for the first time, impacting more than 60 percent of the ocean previously lacking such protection. It also mandates environmental impact assessments before deep-sea mining, contributing to global biodiversity goals like protecting 30 percent of ocean areas by 2030.
- What are some challenges or uncertainties regarding the treaty's future implementation and effectiveness?
- Despite this milestone, significant challenges remain. The implementation of the treaty is expected to take over three years before the first protected areas are designated, and key countries like Russia and potentially the US (under a Trump administration) are not participants.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article presents a largely positive framing of the international high seas protection agreement, highlighting the 'historic success' and the ambitious goals. While it mentions challenges like slow implementation and the absence of key players like Russia and potentially the US, this is presented more as a future challenge than a significant flaw in the agreement itself. The headline, if there was one, would likely reflect this positive framing.
Language Bias
The language used is mostly neutral and factual, employing terms like 'historic success' and 'ambitious goals' which are positive but not overly loaded. The inclusion of quotes from organizations like the High Seas Alliance and OceanCare provides balance, though these are overwhelmingly positive. The mention of countries not supporting the treaty is factual, but presented as an obstacle to overcome rather than a fatal flaw.
Bias by Omission
The article omits potential negative consequences or criticisms of the agreement. While acknowledging the slow implementation and the absence of key players, it doesn't delve into specific concerns or counterarguments that might exist. This omission could lead to an overly optimistic view of the agreement's impact and challenges.
Sustainable Development Goals
The agreement establishes a legally binding framework for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, protecting more than two-thirds of the ocean. This directly addresses SDG 14 (Life Below Water) by creating marine protected areas and requiring environmental impact assessments before deep-sea mining. The article highlights the significant increase in ocean areas under protection from near 1% to potentially 30% by 2030, a substantial step towards achieving SDG 14 targets.