The One Ocean Summit is back for a fifth edition. This international environmental summit will take place from 9 to 11 February in Brest. It mobilizes scientists, politicians and NGOs with one goal: Mobilizing States to “Save” the Oceans† One of the crucial issues will be the negotiations on the protection of the high seas, but what exactly do we mean by this term? We explain it to you.
A sort of “mini COP” of the ocean, the 2022 edition of the One Summit (launched in 2017 by Emmanuel Macron) will be dedicated to the protection and survival of the oceans and marine species. This environmental summit will bring together scientists, activists and NGOs around roundtables and workshops.
The third and final day will be devoted to negotiations between some twenty heads of state and leaders of shipping companies. The ultimate goal is to make concrete commitments to save the oceans.
Governance on the high seas, a crucial issue
One of the main topics discussed is overfishing and plastic pollution… as well as governance on the high seas. A term that is a bit opaque to the general public, which will nevertheless be a crucial topic at this summit. The “high seas” refers to the waters of the planet that, strictly speaking, do not belong to any nation.
Also known as “international waters”, this legal term of the law of the sea was established by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, signed in 1982. The high seas alone represent more than 60% of the seas and oceans of the planet.
A new international treaty by March 2022
Given the threat looming over the oceans, there is an urgent need to conclude new agreements between the countries concerned. Because to date, only the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea protects these specific parts of the blue planet.
Negotiations on the high seas at the One Ocean Summit will focus in particular on key issues such as fisheries, maritime transport or mine exploration. They will be passed on by the European Commission to the United Nations, which plans to draft a new international treaty by March 2022.
(ETX Daily Up)