Monday August 29, 2022
European Commission on Oceans and Fisheries —
The 5th Intergovernmental Conference negotiating the UN High Seas Biodiversity Treaty* suspended its session with significant progress made in almost all chapters, bringing the international community closer than ever to the Treaty it needs for protecting the ocean, tackling environmental degradation, fighting climate change, and preventing biodiversity loss, including through establishing large-scale marine protected areas.
European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius said:
An agreement is in sight. I am confident that we will not have to wait much longer for the negotiations to be successfully concluded. The EU remains focused on achieving a universal, inclusive, and enforceable agreement that will contribute to protecting marine biodiversity and ecosystems, absorbing large amounts of global carbon emissions and strengthening the resilience of our ocean. The international community needs this treaty more than ever. It would be an unprecedented step forward to address the dual crisis of biodiversity loss and climate change.
Until the last moment, the EU, leading a High Ambition Coalition of 50 countries, has pushed tirelessly to secure significant progress. It has worked as a reliable and responsible partner with all geographical groups and countries, leading the negotiations to bridge the remaining divides on all essential elements of the future Treaty.