Restoring Faith in Global Governance: The High Seas Treaty Shows Multilateral Institutions Can Deliver
Matthew Carvalho | Policy Fellow, Planetary Health Alliance
Researcher at Georgetown University specializing in Planetary Health law and diplomacy
People have begun to lose faith in multilateral institutions. Seeing the impacts which global crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the invasion of Ukraine, and climate change have had on the architecture of international institutions has led nations to believe that international camaraderie cannot be the answer.
Recently, I got to see this mentality proved wrong. After decades of negotiations, more than 190 countries came together in New York and agreed to a treaty aiming to protect the “high seas,” or areas of the ocean beyond the national jurisdiction of a sovereign state. Although an ocean treaty might not seem like the most obvious place to restore my faith in global governance (particularly as the amendments to the International Health Regulations and the negotiations for a new pandemic accord were underway at the same time), witnessing the conclusion of these discussions elicited a pride for planetary collaboration I have not yet felt in the policy world.
I will admit that I am a bit of a nerd about this field. People say “marine genetic resources,” “area based management tools,” or some other form of environmental jargon, and I get a rush. Nevertheless, the importance of this treaty surpasses us who choose to read about environmental impact assessments in our free time. For years, areas outside of a country’s marine borders have been governed by a loosely connected body of policies, many of which have little to no coherence between them. This fragmented space allowed for the biodiversity of the seas to be exploited by a variety of actors. The high seas treaty, however, establishes a global body which can create and regulate marine protected areas beyond national jurisdiction. This ability serves as a landmark opportunity to conserve life in and below water which has otherwise been left vulnerable.
I participated in the final Intergovernmental Conference for these negotiations as an observer with the High Seas Alliance, a non-governmental organization (NGO). I have only participated in events like this as a United States representative before, so working with an NGO was a new experience for me. I was awestruck by the cross-sector, cross-country collaboration within the High Seas Alliance; everyone worked in harmony with the clear goal of moving the conservation agenda forward. Countries trusted us to help them negotiate parts of the agreement and assist them with drafted text. In all international talks I have been a part of, I have never seen that level of government-civil society connection, and it was an honor to witness.
The final day of negotiations went for 36 hours straight, with us up throughout the night in the United Nations Headquarters hoping to come to a consensus. Country representatives could have chosen to give up on the talks and accept that a treaty would just never be. Instead, they took naps on couches, drank some coffee, and refused to concede. This level of devotion and determination to reach an agreement reminds me of why society can never lose faith in multilateral institutions, as those who exist within them refuse to give up, either. After witnessing the selfless commitment to bridge-building from individuals across the world, I remembered why I chose to follow the path which led me to the Planetary Health Alliance.
Planetary Health, at its core, acknowledges that some obstacles for promoting well-being transcend global governance structures. While multilateral institutions face challenges, they are able to adapt, and the high seas treaty is proof. Considering every second breath humanity takes is a direct result of a well-protected and conserved ocean, this treaty is a key example of a Planetary Health policy. As the Policy Fellow for the Planetary Health Alliance, identifying and advocating for policy reform and implementation with international bureaucracy can be a tiresome and sometimes depressing task. However, the Intergovernmental Conference proved to me that the Planetary Health paradigm has power in diplomacy to move society forward in protecting all that exists around us. If you have yet to read about the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction negotiations, I implore you to take a look — they may just restore your faith in multilateral institutions, too.
