Greenpeace staff and volunteers wave ribbons as an ‘ocean wave’ in Mexico City, Mexico. During an event in the lead-up to World Oceans Day.
From Santiago to Bangkok, London to Johannesburg, Greenpeace volunteers and supporters create human waves across 23 countries to call for the protection of our seas and the creation of a network of ocean sanctuaries covering 30% of international waters by 2030.
Governments have finally agreed a Global Ocean Treaty at the United Nations, after almost two decades of negotiations. It sets the rules and tools for protecting ocean life over nearly half of our planet. Most importantly, it provides a pathway to creating marine protected areas across the world’s oceans.
This treaty is the biggest conservation victory ever. It’s a huge moment for our blue planet, and a hopeful sign that in a divided world, protecting nature for the benefit of all people can triumph over global politics.
What does a Global Ocean Treaty actually do?
The new Global Ocean Treaty finally makes it possible to create a network of ocean sanctuaries across the globe, areas where fragile ecosystems and marine life can recover and thrive.
This gives governments the opportunity to actually reach the vital ‘30×30’ ocean protection target that they committed to just three months ago. Without a treaty, there would be no legal route to protecting large areas of international waters.
Healthy oceans help combat climate change by locking away carbon, and provide food and livelihoods to more than three billion people – mostly in the Global South.
The global oceans belong to all of us, and everyone should be able to enjoy the vital benefits they provide. The treaty also enables a fairer approach to looking after our oceans, giving everyone a chance to study and create knowledge about them.
Learn More> https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/news/global-ocean-treaty-how-people-power-helped-protect-the-oceans/