{"id":58767,"date":"2023-03-10T15:57:09","date_gmt":"2023-03-10T02:57:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/?p=58767"},"modified":"2024-07-12T11:01:35","modified_gmt":"2024-07-11T23:01:35","slug":"how-people-power-helped-protect-the-oceans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/how-people-power-helped-protect-the-oceans\/","title":{"rendered":"How people power helped protect the oceans"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On March 4th, 2023, after years of talks, delay and emotional rollercoaster, governments finally secured a Global Ocean Treaty.<\/h3>\n\n

An historic Global Ocean Treaty has finally been agreed at the United Nations after almost two decades of negotiations. This is a huge moment for conservation and a hopeful sign that in a divided world, protecting nature for the benefit of all people can triumph over geopolitics.<\/p>\n\n

The very first Greenpeace briefing on this topic was written way back in 2005! And after years and years of campaigning by Greenpeace and our allies plus a tense final week of negotiations, world leaders finally put aside their differences for a moment and secured a Global Ocean Treaty. <\/p>\n\n

\"\"
2005 Greenpeace Oceans briefing<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

This Treaty is the biggest conservation victory ever and provides a pathway to creating fully and highly protected ocean areas across the world\u2019s oceans. Here\u2019s a quick look at what\u2019s been accomplished, what it took to get here, and what comes next:<\/p>\n\n

What does a Global Ocean Treaty actually do?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

The new Global Ocean Treaty opens the door to the creation of a network of sanctuaries across the globe, areas where fragile ecosystems and marine life can recover and thrive, by keeping the 30\u00d730 target \u2013 protecting 30% of the world\u2019s oceans by 2030 \u2013 alive. Without a Treaty, there is no legal route to protecting large areas of international waters in ocean sanctuaries.<\/p>\n\n

\"Jane
Jane Fonda (l) attends a press briefing with Laura Meller (r), Oceans Campaigner and Polar Advisor at Greenpeace Nordic and Herv\u00e9 Berville (not seen in photograph), the Secretary of State for the Sea for France at the United Nations in New York, during the resumed IGC5 negotiations.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

We need healthy oceans, which help combat climate change by locking away carbon, and provide food security and livelihoods to more than 3 billion people, the vast majority of whom are in the Global South.<\/p>\n\n

How did we get here?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

Key players were civil society. This isn\u2019t just a victory for Greenpeace but so many organisations big and small who worked tirelessly over decades to build an incredible movement of ocean champions. <\/p>\n\n

Delegates from governments around the world, who despite a lack of sleep, also worked incredibly hard to get an agreement over the line. Small Island States have shown leadership throughout the process, and the broad G77 group led the way in ensuring the Treaty can be put into practice in a fair and equitable way. The EU, US and UK, and China were key players in brokering the deal. Countries showed a willingness to compromise in the final days of talks, and built coalitions instead of sowing division. <\/p>\n\n

\"Activist
Greenpeace USA activists unfurl a giant banner reading \u2018 Ocean Treaty Now!\u2019 To send a clear message to delegates at the United Nations in New York at the start of the second week of the resumed IGC5 negotiations.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

One thing is for certain, it wouldn\u2019t have been possible without years of relentless people power efforts<\/a>. 5,540,513 people from around the world signed the petition<\/a>, building a movement that protects our oceans and the billions who depend on them.<\/p>\n\n

Campaigning to save life on our planet can sometimes feel like a daunting task, and it\u2019s easy to become disheartened.The very first Greenpeace briefing on this topic was written way back in 2005! The treaty has had many names over the years, but the core goal remained the same \u2013 we needed oceans to be protected. This monumental win for ocean protection reminds us that taking action makes a difference and that people power works!<\/p>\n\n

\"Protect
Greenpeace USA activists project a message reading \u201cBe Bold. Be Flexible. Be Ocean Champions!\u201d onto the iconic Guggenheim Museum to send a clear message to delegates at the United Nations in New York during the second week of the resumed IGC5 negotiations.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

What comes next? <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

The text will now go through technical editing and translation, before officially being adopted at another session by member states. While there are still major issues in the text, it is a workable Treaty that is a starting point for protecting 30% of the world\u2019s oceans.<\/p>\n\n

\"'Protect
One hundred and thirty Greenpeace MENA volunteers are involved in the creation of a human banner in Tangier, Morocco, to send a message to the world to protect our oceans.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

There will be more to do to protect our oceans, and put these promises into practice, but for now, let\u2019s take a minute to appreciate what together we have achieved. <\/p>\n\n

Share the video and tell others the good news.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

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