Nations across the globe began the final round of talks on a sweeping oceans agreement this Monday, with calls for flexibility and compromise from environmental groups who worry the text may not be bold enough to protect the seas.
Following four previous rounds and two years of pandemic delays, governments are expected to adopt a legally binding document to safeguard international waters within the next two weeks. The oceans need urgent action, and negotiators know it.
Miguel de Serpa Soares, the secretary general guiding the conference, warned that the oceans are in a perilous state and urged countries to show a spirit of cooperation and to seek practical compromises that move the process forward.
Rena Lee, who has led the talks from the start, noted that meaningful progress has been made in this final round. She said the discussions could become the basis for reconciliation, but emphasized that creativity and resilience will be required to secure a meaningful agreement.
Lee added that the aim should be an agreement that is fair, balanced, viable, and capable of becoming universal practice. She encouraged pursuing excellence without risking a positive outcome.
sperm whales in the sea
This call for consensus worries environmental groups, who fear a deal that is too cautious or not far reaching enough.
Pilar Marcos, part of the environmental coalition, stressed the need for flexibility given the nearly two hundred countries involved in the decision. She urged strong leadership to avoid a repeat of past patterns, while Greenpeace representatives traveled to New York.
“The oceans are in a death spiral”
Marcos acknowledged that bringing together nations with diverging views will require substantial diplomacy. He warned that too much emphasis on old positions risks leaving the issue unresolved. The status quo cannot be sustained, he argued.
It is time to move beyond endless debates and work toward the strongest possible compromise. The negotiations should focus on decisions that protect the oceans, support climate goals, and safeguard coastal communities, according to Jessica Battle, an adviser with the WWF.
Protect at least 30% of the oceans
Environmental advocates view the allocation of marine protected areas as essential for measuring success. They favor zones free from destructive activities such as fishing and mining to preserve biodiversity.
The goal endorsed by these groups is to safeguard at least 30% of the world’s ocean areas by 2030, a target championed by the High Seas Alliance, a coalition of dozens of non governmental organizations.
The summit drew many nations together
Fifty countries, led by the European Union, have pledged to reach an ambitious deal this year. Yet critics question the resolve of this bloc given strong fishing interests in countries like Spain, Portugal, and Denmark.
Protection or management
NGOs united under the Alliance for the High Seas argue that the first step is to decide whether the agreement should focus on protecting areas or proceeding with ongoing activities such as fishing and mining.
For a lasting accord, governments must bridge political divides and overcome differences that cut across the international community. The inaugural session has already highlighted tensions among major powers amid current global events.
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