Various environmental organizations are urging the Government to ratify the High Seas Treaty, an agreement that protects the biodiversity of international waters. Argentina signed the commitment on June 18, 2024, but a year later no progress has been made in the ratification process.
The demands intensified this week, following the attendance of President Javier Milei at the III UN World Ocean Summit in France.
“This presence can be interpreted positively, as long as it is accompanied by a firm intention to ratify the treaty,” stated Juan Coustet, from the organization Without Blue There Is No Green, to Environmental News.
For the ratification, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must draft and submit a bill to the National Congress. This document must be discussed and approved by both chambers, allowing the Executive Power to formalize its adherence.
Urgency to ratify the High Seas Treaty
The High Seas Treaty, officially named the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, seeks to conserve and promote sustainable management of the wealth of international waters.
The high seas areas represent two-thirds of the oceans (equivalent to almost half of the planet), do not belong to any State, and constitute a common heritage of humanity.
“It is essential to ratify it, not only because life on the planet depends on the health of the oceans, but also because we cannot stay out of global negotiations for their conservation and responsible use,” stated the Environmental Policy Circle in a statement.
According to Coustet, this agreement “is a key tool to coordinate global efforts against the threats facing our oceans.” Besides being large reservoirs of biodiversity, these ecosystems act as climate regulators and are the main carbon sinks.
The activist mentioned that some initiatives included in the High Seas Treaty are: the establishment of marine protected areas; mandatory environmental impact assessments before developing activities in the high seas; equitable distribution of benefits derived from marine genetic resources, and technology transfer and capacity building, especially aimed at developing countries.
Impact of the Delay
Since 2004, when the first meetings at the United Nations began, Argentina has been actively involved in the gestation of the agreement. Due to all this prior work, its implementation represents a political and diplomatic responsibility for environmentalists.
“Not ratifying the treaty would imply a serious setback in environmental matters, with negative consequences for the protection of our resources. Consequently, it would also affect the economic development that could arise from its sustainable exploitation. In simple terms, we would be left behind both environmentally and geopolitically and economically,” stated Coustet.
To date, 135 countries have signed the treaty. 51 of them have already ratified it (mostly belonging to the European Union). For the agreement to enter into force, at least 60 countries must have done so. In Latin America, countries like Cuba, Chile, and Costa Rica have already ratified it.
