The intergovernmental conference to draft the first‑ever treaty to conserve and protect marine diversity on the high seas concluded its general discussions today before moving to informal negotiations on the text, with speakers calling for a universal, inclusive text that is careful not to jeopardize existing frameworks.
An intergovernmental conference to draft the first‑ever treaty addressing biodiversity on and beneath the high seas opened its first substantive session at Headquarters today with speakers emphasizing the urgency of forging an agreement — ideally by consensus — as soon as possible, but acknowledging the significant challenges that lay ahead.
The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary‑General António Guterres:
Member States had set the tone for progress towards developing a legally binding treaty aimed at the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction, the President of the Intergovernmental Conference on the matter said today as she concluded its three-day organizational meeting.
Consensus and balance were crucial in drafting a document that captured current progress and helped guide discussions towards a legally binding treaty aimed at the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, delegates stressed in interactive dialogues during the second day of the Intergovernmental Conference on the matter.
With oceans and seas moderating global climate conditions, maintaining the earth’s ecosystem, and supporting the livelihood of more than 3 billion people, it was critical to develop a binding treaty aimed at the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity, delegates heard today as they convened to address organizational matters towards that goal.
Following are UN Secretary‑General António Guterres’ remarks at the signing ceremony of a new maritime boundary agreement between Australia and Timor-Leste, in New York today:
On the side-lines of the seventy-second general debate at United Nations Headquarters, 71 Member States and two Observer States undertook a total of 98 treaty actions in a four-day event that ended today.
Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks at the “Article XIV Conference” on the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, in New York today:
Leaders of the United Nations, national Governments and civil society urged universal accession to the new international agreement prohibiting nuclear weapons, as dozens of Heads of State and Government became the first signatories to the landmark treaty during the annual event to promote international instruments for peace and development.
