Image: Dimitris Vetsikas/Pixabay
The High Seas Treaty currently fills a key gap in international governance by establishing a mechanism for governments to establish Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the high seas. But funding is needed to kickstart the work of accelerating these MPAs, with a focus on supporting the Global South leadership ambitions and priorities.
A pledge announced during the Finance Day at the 16th Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP16) has been made by a consortium of the world’s leading philanthropies, including the Bezos Earth Fund, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Blue Action Fund, Blue Nature Alliance, and Schmidt Ocean Institute. It was made in recognition of the need for rapid development and implementation in effective MPAs within the high seas.
“The creation of Marine Protected Areas in the High Seas is essential for preserving the ocean’s health and ability to act as a climate ally,” said Melissa Wright, the woman in charge of leading the Bloomberg Ocean Initiative at Bloomberg Philanthropies. “This joint funding pledge aims to kickstart the development of proposals for High Seas MPAs and prepare the Treaty for their earliest adoption. With less than 2% of the high seas currently protected, action cannot wait.”
The finances will go towards supporting global initiatives in the High Seas space, to ‘fast-track the creation of the first set of MPAs under the High Seas Treaty. It will also support initiatives to encourage and emphasise Indigenous participation and scientific analysis to identify key areas across the high seas for protection.
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