I am very pleased that we have reached an agreement that further strengthens the law of the sea. The agreement will strengthen international environmental management in a manner consistent with interests Norway as a country port. The agreement will be an important tool for creating marine protected areas and other area-based management measures in international maritime areas. This will help achieve the goal of retaining 30%. seas, which is a political goal that Norway has agreed to, says Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt.

Read also: Exchange of a foreign driving license for a Norwegian one.

The UN General Assembly decided in 2017 to convene an international conference to negotiate a new agreement under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity in Marine Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction. Facing serious challenges at sea, Norway actively contributed to finalizing the negotiations on a new agreement. Norway's top priority was to secure a solid and forward-looking agreement. It will also be an important tool for establishing area management measures (including marine protected areas) and carrying out impact assessments.

– Most of the globe is covered by oceans, and this is where we find much of the globe's biodiversity. Finally, the world's oceans have received an environmental agreement. This is a large and important breakthrough for marine areas beyond national jurisdiction, which make up two-thirds of the world's oceans. After two decades of negotiations, we are pleased that it has finally been achieved. This agreement is an important follow-up to the recent nature agreement. As during COP15 in Montreal, Norway played an important role in building bridges in the work towards concluding an agreement, says the Minister for Climate and Environment, Espen Barth Eide.

Better ocean management

Capacity building and technology transfer to developing countries are absolutely essential for all countries to be able to fulfill and benefit from the agreement, regardless of resources and conditions. Norway supported clear rules on this in the agreement.

“This agreement will facilitate better and healthier ocean management. It is extremely important for developing countries to take the best care of their own marine resources. It also contributes to a fair sharing of benefits from the exploitation of marine genetic resources in offshore areas beyond national jurisdiction, says Development Minister Anne Beathe Tvinnereim.

– This agreement will strengthen ocean governance and contribute to efforts to ensure cleaner and richer seas. The cooperation we already have in our nearest international waters can be strengthened. We are at an advanced stage of evaluating measures that can contribute to better marine governance, says Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Bjørnar Skjæran.

António Guterres congratulated the UN member countries

UN Secretary General António Guterres congratulated UN member countries on finalizing a text to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction. Calling it a "breakthrough" after nearly two decades of talk.

A statement released by a UN spokesperson said the secretary-general also appreciated the critical support from NGOs, civil society, academic institutions and the scientific community.

"I look forward to continuing to work with all parties to ensure a healthier, more resilient and productive ocean for the benefit of current and future generations," the statement concluded.

Like us on Facebook and share our post with others. Thank you.

Source: regjeringen/UN

Read and learn more: Significant seabed mineral resource potential on the Norwegian Continental Shelf