Greenpeace urges Austria: Clear measures for marine protection necessary!

Greenpeace urges Austria: Clear measures for marine protection necessary!

On today's World Day of the Ocean, June 7, 2025, Greenpeace urges the Austrian federal government to give a clear commitment to protect the sea. A current report by Greenpeace, which deals with the worrying state of the world's oceans, indicates the urgency of measures. The UN Ocean Conference in Nice is currently taking place from June 9th to 13th, which focuses on a global university protection agreement that is still waiting for the ratified consent.

In order to be able to enter into force, the underlying protection agreement needs a total of 60 ratifizations. So far, 31 states have already ratified the agreement. Greenpeace calls on the Austrian government to also make its contribution and to ratify the agreement. This international agreement is aimed at protecting threatened species and habitats beyond national borders and could be considered an important milestone for marine protection since the agreement was adopted in 2023.

challenges and goals in marine protection

A Greenpeace report published in October 2024 shows that the ambitious goal of putting 30 percent of the oceans under protection by 2030, without effectively protecting the Hochsee. If the current pace continues, the 30 percent goal will only be achieved in 2107. Greenpeace therefore urges a global moratorium against deep -sea mountain construction in order to protect sensitive ecosystems that could be permanently damaged by such measures.

The backing for the high -sea agreement is shown worldwide. On September 21, 2023, almost 70 countries signed an international contract to protect the Hochsee. Germany was one of the first countries to officially accept the contract that was signed as part of the UN General Batte in New York. Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock emphasized the historical importance of this day for the protection of the oceans and referred to the need for healthy oceans in the fight against the climate crisis, pollution and species death.

The way to ratification

For the creation of the agreement, it is necessary that each signatory country ratifies the contract in its national procedure. A total of 60 countries are necessary to put the contract into force. This then comes into force 120 days after the deposit of the 60th ratification certificate. The federal government plans to ratify the agreement quickly. As part of the international community, the states aimed to convert 30 percent of the oceans into protected areas by 2030.

The high -sea agreement lays the basics for large protected areas and the examination of the environmental compatibility of economic projects. The definition of protected areas can be decided with a three -quarters majority of the Member States. While China and Russia initially demanded unanimous decisions, a mechanism for compensation payments to poorer countries was agreed to ensure a fair distribution of possible profits from economic activities.

Greenpeace also hopes that the Hochsee Agreement will come into force in France until the UN Sea conference in 2025. The challenges in the field of marine protection are great, the time is pushing, and international agreements offer an opportunity to provide future generations with intact, protected oceans.

Further information on this topic can be found at OTS href = "https://www.bmuv.de/themen/meeresschutz/un-hochseschutzhützen"> BMUV and Tagesschau .