“To the fifty or so ratifications already deposited here in the past few hours, fifteen more countries have formally committed to joining,” stated the French head of state, celebrating a key milestone in protecting two-thirds of the planet’s ocean surface. Once the 60th ratification is officially confirmed, the treaty will enter into force 120 days later.
A Historic Treaty for a Global Common Good
The High Seas Treaty, also known as BBNJ (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction), marks a major breakthrough in international ocean governance. It aims to regulate marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdictions — zones frequently exposed to overexploitation, illegal fishing, and unregulated extractive ambitions.
Guterres Warns Against a “Wild West” in the Deep Sea
In a powerful speech, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned against descending into unrestrained ocean exploitation:
“The deep sea cannot become a Wild West. I hope we can change course — to replace plundering with protection,” he declared.
His remarks came at a time when some states — notably the United States under former President Donald Trump — have expressed interest in unilaterally launching deep-sea mining projects in the Pacific’s international waters.
Macron: “The Abyss Is Not for Sale”
Emmanuel Macron also issued a thinly veiled warning to powers eyeing seabed resources:
“The abyss is not for sale. No more than Greenland, Antarctica, or the high seas,” he declared, in an implicit critique of Donald Trump’s past proposal to buy Greenland — a Danish autonomous territory rich in minerals. Macron is scheduled to visit Greenland on June 15, in a strong symbolic move.
A High-Profile Conference: Nice as the “Blue Capital” for a Week
The city of Nice is hosting over 100 delegations, including 50 heads of state or government — such as Brazilian President Lula da Silva — and thousands of scientists, diplomats, NGOs, and climate stakeholders, until Friday, June 13. This massive mobilization reflects the urgency of the climate and ecological crisis.
Held in a setting as iconic as it is alarming — the Mediterranean, which reached a record temperature of 28.9°C in summer 2024 — the conference aims to produce a joint declaration, the result of months of negotiations, along with concrete commitments to protect marine ecosystems.
A Summit to Usher in a New Era for Maritime Law
This treaty — the product of two decades of international negotiations — could become the central legal tool for protecting the planet’s most vulnerable marine areas. That is, if the promises made are followed by concrete and coordinated action.
Editorial team/le7tv