After two decades of planning and talks that culminated in a grueling race over the past few days in New York, a significant majority of nations agreed on language for a historic United Nations treaty that would protect ocean biodiversity.
As marine life faces threats from climate change, overfishing, the possibility of seabed mining and other dangers, the treaty would make it possible to create marine protected areas and enact other conservation measures on the "high seas,” the immense expanse of ocean covering almost half the world.
"Today the world came together to protect the ocean for the benefit of our children and grandchildren,” said Monica Medina, a U.S. assistant secretary of state. "We leave here with the ability to create protected areas in the high seas and achieve the ambitious goal of conserving 30% of the ocean by 2030.”