Source: The Third Pole
Author: James Fahn
The first ever UN Ocean Conference came to a close on June 9 with a “Call For Action”, over 1,300 voluntary commitments made to support ocean health, and aspirations for a new convention to protect biodiversity in the roughly half of our planet which lies beyond national jurisdictions.
Continue reading Navigating Towards a ‘Paris Agreement for the Oceans’?
One of the major issues arising from the Ocean Conference is the need for a treaty to protect the high seas covering half the planet. The momentum exists because States are returning to the UN next month for their final scheduled Preparatory Meeting, determining whether or not to open up formal negotiations through an Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) in 2018. The High Seas Alliance will be working at the PrepCom to try to ensure this happens.
Continue reading High Seas Treaty More Crucial than Ever at Closing of UN Ocean Conference
At the first ever high level UN Ocean Conference in New York (June 5 – 9), nations will gather to discuss how they can turn the tide on ocean degradation. This occurs just a matter of weeks before States convene at the UN to determine the fate of the high seas and marine protection groups say the two cannot be disconnected.Although the high seas (the area beyond the national jurisdiction of any country) make up two thirds of the global ocean, there is no overarching legal framework or rules in place to protect and manage these global commons and its unique and critically endangered biodiversity.
Continue reading High Seas Protection Should Be Top Of Ocean Conference Agenda
It is a crucial time for the high seas, as government representatives from around the world gather at UN Headquarters from March 27th to April 7th for the 3rd PrepCom to discuss an international legally binding instrument on marine biodiversity.
Continue reading HSA hosts PrepCom3 Side Event: Marine Reserves and Climate Change
The last day of the 2016 preparatory meeting for a new marine biodiversity treaty concludes at United Nations Headquarters in New York today.
There are now only two more scheduled meetings in 2017 before the end of 2017 deadline set by UN Resolution 69/292 by which time the parties have to agree on a recommendation whether to convene, or not, a formal intergovernmental conference – effectively full negotiations to establish a new treaty protecting the biodiversity of the high seas.
Continue reading Update From The High Seas Treaty Negotiations
On August 31, the High Seas Alliance and Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) held a PrepCom side event where leading scientists presented the latest developments in ocean mapping and marine spatial planning technologies, and how these tools can be used by policy makers.Mapping is an important element of marine spatial planning and the establishment of scientifically based networks of marine protected areas (MPAs) in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) and the data made available can help States and competent organizations implement policies and future management measures taken with respect to area based management tools (ABMTs) and MPAs under the new Instrument. These technologies an assist in (i) monitoring large and remote MPAs (ii) identify gaps in governance of ABNJ and (iii) highlight opportunities for data sharing that require strong coordination among sectoral organizations.
Continue reading HSA hosts PrepCom2 Side Event on Ocean Mapping Technologies
Source: Virgin.com
Author: Karen Sack
Protecting the heath of the high seas is, literally, the biggest global challenge many people have never heard of. It’s therefore no surprise that hardly anyone realises that discussions taking place at the UN over the next two weeks will impact the future of the high seas, the entire global ocean, and therefore the planet. Because whether you live in a first world city by the sea, a land-locked country in the middle of Africa, a small island in the Pacific, or anywhere in between, these discussions affect you.
After two weeks of negotiations on a new marine biodiversity agreement, the first UN PrepCom has concluded on a very positive note. These negotiations are the first of four PrepCom sessions (each two weeks long) through the end of 2017, which will hopefully lead to a formal intergovernmental treaty conference in 2018.
Delegates, ocean advocates and defenders of the high seas gathered for a reception hosted by the High Seas Alliance, IUCN and the Bertarelli Foundation April 4th at UN Headquarters in New York City.Donna Bertarelli, of the Bertarelli Foundation, opened the evening by expressing her passion for the ocean and great concern at its rapid decline. She urged delegates that the time to protect the high seas is now and shared her hope that this treaty can quickly become a reality.
Continue reading HSA and Bertarelli Foundation Host High Seas Reception at UN
During the PrepCom meeting taking place at UN Headquarters from March 28-April 8, the High Seas Alliance held a side event for government representatives entitled “Governance Principles, EIAs, and Operationalization in the New Instrument.” The lunch-time event drew over 70 government representatives who gathered to hear an expert panel address key topics being addressed at the PrepCom negotiations. Moderated by Lisa Speer, Director of International Oceans Program at NRDC, panelists included David Freestone, Secretary of the Sargasso Sea Commission, Duncan Currie, International Legal Advisor, and Kristina Gjerde, IUCN Global and Marine Polar Programme.
Continue reading HSA Hosts PrepCom Side Event on Governance Principles and EIAs
