Members of the United Nations concluded two weeks of negotiations this Friday without a deal to close a deal that could address growing environmental and economic challenges to conserve high seas biodiversity.

15 years later, including the previous four official sessions, negotiators still have not reached a legally binding agreement on the increasing environmental and economic challenges of the high seas, also known as international waters, an area that covers almost half of the planet.

“Although we have made excellent progress, we still need a little more time to get there,” said conference chair Rena Lee.

It is up to the UN General Assembly to restart the fifth session on an as yet undetermined date.

Many hoped that this fifth session, which began on 15 August at UN headquarters, would be the last and produce a final text on “the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction” (BBNJ).

“While it is disappointing that the deal has not come to fruition in these last two weeks of negotiations, we are encouraged by the process,” said Liz Karan of the NGO Pew Charitable Trusts, and eventually called for a new session. of the year.

Greenpeace has been tougher, especially towards developed countries like the United States or the European Union, which it accuses of taking last-minute action.

“Time is running out,” denounced Laura Meller, responsible for Oceans at the NGO. “As countries continue to raise their voices, the oceans and those who depend on them are suffering,” the statement said.

One of the most sensitive issues is the distribution of potential benefits from the development of genetic resources in international waters where pharmaceutical, chemical and cosmetic companies hope to find drugs, products or cures.

This costly maritime exploration is largely the prerogative of wealthy nations, but developing countries do not want to be left out of the potential profits from unowned maritime resources.

“Lost opportunity”

Similar problems between the North and the South arise in other international negotiations, such as climate change, where developing countries feel more damaged by global warming and richer countries try to help compensate for the damage.

The high seas begin at the border of nations’ exclusive economic zones (EEZ), which, according to international law, extend up to 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) from each country’s coast and are not under the jurisdiction of any State. .

60% of the world’s oceans fall into this category.

While healthy marine ecosystems are crucial to the future of humanity, especially in limiting global warming, only 1% of international waters are protected.

One of the pillars of a final agreement is to allow the creation of marine protected areas, which many countries expect to cover 30% of the oceans by 2030.

“We will not be able to achieve our ambitious and necessary goal without providing protection in this vast area,” said Maxine Burkett, a US State Department official.

However, delegations still disagree on the process of establishing these protected areas or how to implement a requirement for environmental impact assessments prior to new activities in the high seas.

“What a missed opportunity…” tweeted Klaudija Cremers, a researcher at the Iddri think tank, which, like many other NGOs, has observer status in the negotiations.