Big decisions are not for the UN-ORANE CONFERENTION

Weeks of speculation preceded it. During the International UN-OREANE CONFERENTION in Nice, from 9 to 13 June, would finally be ratified the important High Seas Treaty? Sixty countries were at least needed to formally ratify the treaty on the protection of international waters; At the start of the top, the counter was 31. President Emmanuel Macron was hopeful: according to him, enough countries had already promised their support. Ursula von der Leyen, chairman of the European Commission, said that the world had only « a few inches » removed from ratification.

Nevertheless, the UNOC-3-top ended on Friday evening with only fifty signatures on the clock-among other things, the Netherlands was reinforced. That lack of decisiveness seems characteristic of the conference. In the margin, buttons were made-Peru promises to shift a sailing route in favor of humpbacks, French-Polynesia comes with an unprecedented large sea reserve-but really big decisions were not made.

Many nature and environmental organizations respond critically. Greenpeace speaks in a statement of ‘hollow progress’. The De Noordzee Foundation writes on its own website about ‘a missed opportunity’ and ‘painful absence’ of Dutch politics.

Kirsten Schuijt, international director at WWF, says that the congress caused ‘wind in the sails’, but also underlines that it is time for action. « The goal of the High Seas Treaty is that 30 percent of the oceans will be protected in 2030. We are not nearly there yet. In short, we sail over stormy seas and must continue to navigate well to achieve our final goal. »

Climate brief

Han Dolman, who was present as director of the Royal Netherlands Institute for Research of the Zee (NIOZ) in Nice in the scientific discussions prior to UNOC-3, found the top ‘not much yielding’. « Yes, in abstract terms a lot has been underlined and promised, and some sub -topics have achieved successes. For example, there are plans for a large plastic treaty and a coalition has been set up for the protection of sharks and rays. But about other important topics, such as research into the consequences of Marine Co₂-Storage and a potential ban on soil -making fishing, it remained painfully quiet.  »

In the final declaration, only the effects of climate change are also spoken of very briefly. Dolman: “In an earlier draft version there was a whole paragraph about the importance of the Paris agreement and the pursuit of co₂-reduction. That has all been deleted. You can see the political interference again.  » Schuijt: « We continue to strive for a healthy, resilient ocean, but that requires more cooperation. »

Underwater metals

Hot Hearer At the conference, deep sea mine construction, extra topical now that the American company The Metals Company is getting ready to harvest manganese tubers from the ocean floor. Manufacturers of electric cars are eager for those underwater metals: they can make more and larger batteries. But scientists have been warning for ages that the consequences for ocean ecosystems are still insufficiently known. In that area, the UNOC-3 brought moderately good news for nature: 37 countries have called for a temporary postponement in Nice, until more about the precise consequences is known.

« The biggest profit of the conference is the increased attention for the oceans, » says Dolman. « You can see that at De Diepzeemijnbouw. ​​Last week NSC, D66 and GroenLinks-PvdA came up with a motion to talk to AllSeas, a partly Dutch company that has ties with The Metals Company. Minister Hermans has already promised that, that is a bright spot. »

He is less pleased with the lack of the High Seas Treaty success. « I am not too worried about those ten last signatures, they will follow later this year. But I am just ashamed that the Netherlands is not participating. Two years ago the ambitions were still towering, and now … this had never happened with an inspired cabinet. »

Even if the Oceans Convention is quickly ratified, that does not mean that the oceans are immediately protected: only after 120 days does the Convention become internationally valid. From then on, decisions will be made via the so -called Conference of the Parties, a recurring top that is already there for climate and biodiversity, for example.

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