The high seas treaty is pickin’ up steam. It seeks to safeguard marine biodiversity outside of national borders, known as the high seas, and is coming up to a historic turning point. The treaty continues to build momentum, reaching 113 signatories and 21 ratifications. It was ultimately adopted in June 2023 after months of deliberative negotiation. On June 9, a special ceremony will occur in Nice, France, during the UN Oceans Conference. This summit provides global leaders with an important opportunity to redouble their commitment to protecting and implementing the treaty.
While the United States signed this treaty under President Joe Biden’s administration, the U.S. has yet to ratify it. Perhaps most notably, the U.S. is not a member of the International Seabed Authority. That provides it an unusual platform in the U.S. debates, ratification, or treaty. Advocates emphasize that its successful enactment is essential for protecting vital marine habitats that are increasingly threatened by pollution and over-exploitation.
Significance of the Nice Summit
The next summit in Nice will feature dozens of heads of state. In the lead-up to that event, an ambitious, four-day conference will convene nearly 2,000 scientists from close to 100 countries. This gathering aims to discuss and promote the treaty’s goals, which include protecting 30% of the world’s land and oceans by 2030.
Sandrine Barbier, head of the French delegation, a unique opportunity to testify. She highlighted the upcoming opportunity to restate their shared political will to the treaty. The Nice conference is billed as the forum for global cooperation and discussion to protect the ocean.
Rebecca Hubbard, director of the High Seas Alliance, showed guarded optimism about the progress being made. She emphasized that “there’s been some amazing progress and movement,” noting the positive collaborative spirit between countries. That’s why Hubbard thinks the summit is such an incredible opportunity. It’s a huge opportunity for us to collectively protect the ocean through real, meaningful climate legislation.
Path to Ratification
To go into force, the treaty needs to be ratified by at least 60 countries. To date, proponents have won 21 ratifications and are hopeful that they can reach the 38-state threshold by June 2023. If they are successful, the treaty will enter into force by the end of this year. Once 60 ratifications are reached, the treaty will go into effect 120 days after the 60th ratification.
The treaty’s interim commission—established to pave the way for the treaty’s eventual entry into force—held its first meeting in New York. There, negotiators took important strides toward establishing an institutional framework that can sustain the agreement. This preparatory work will be critical for proper implementation and enforcement of the treaty’s terms after the treaty enters into force.
Challenges Ahead
Even with this optimism about the treaty, many challenges still lie ahead. Arlo Hemphill, Deep Sea Mining Campaigner Greenpeace U.S. Though fourteen years removed from the writing of Tansley’s great work, Aldo Leopold would echo Tansley’s deep concern about the ongoing threats to marine ecosystems. He branded some practices “an affront to multilateralism.” He continued that they are “the equivalent of throwing a global lifeline and subsidy into molten lava and then punching it.”
The treaty’s supporters hope to mitigate such dangers with strong international commitment and cooperation, as opposed to the fragmentation that the ATM symbolizes. With negotiations still underway at the Nice summit, all stakeholders – governments, NGOs, and industry alike – want to come together to find a way forward that best protects our environment.