The European Union’s Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius this Saturday praised the agreement reached at the United Nations to protect the high seas, saying it is “a historic moment” for ocean conservation.
“We are taking a crucial step towards preserving marine life and biodiversity that are essential for us and future generations,” the commissioner said in a statement to the Agence France Presse.
Virginijus Sinkevicius stressed that “this day marks the culmination of more than a decade of preparatory work and international negotiations in which the European Union has played a key role”.
Member States of the United Nations (UN) reached an agreement on Saturday to draft a treaty to protect the high seas, after more than 15 years of negotiations.
An agreement was reached after a marathon of negotiations that began on February 20 and was due to end on Friday, but continued overnight into Saturday, with more than 35 hours of continuous discussions.
The document defines, among other things, the foundations for the establishment of marine protected areas, which should facilitate the international commitment to protect at least 30% of the oceans by 2030.
However, formal approval of the treaty will have to wait until a group of engineers ensures that the terms used in the document are uniform and that it is translated into the six official languages of the UN.
“This is a historic day for conservation and a sign that, in a divided world, protecting nature and people can triumph geopolitically,” said Laura Meller of the environmental group Greenpeace in an initial response.
Source: DN
