Climate Politics
Nations Ratify First Global Treaty to Protect Ocean Life
The new agreement allows for marine protection areas and mandates environmental review of activities that could damage biodiversity.
A humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) jumps out of the Pacific Ocean's waters.
Photographer: Fernando Castillo/AFP/Getty Images
As climate impacts multiply, a landmark United Nations treaty to protect ocean life will go into effect in January.
Sierra Leone and Morocco on Friday provided the final of the 60 votes needed to ratify the accord on the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources, ending a process that started in September 2023. The US signed the treaty under the former President Joe Biden’s administration, but President Donald Trump’s administration has opposed its ratification.