Late last night, after two weeks of intense negotiations, delegates meeting at the United Nations finally agreed to language for a High Seas Treaty. This is a major milestone in a nearly two-decade effort to secure a treaty to govern and protect the High Seas, which make up 70% of the ocean and cover nearly half the planet. More than 160,000 supporters spoke up and urged leaders to act. This public support, along with the great work of partners like RISE UP, the High Seas Alliance, Greenpeace, and more, helped show decision-makers that people all over the world were watching and wanted action — and they delivered. There is still more work to do, as nations will now need to formally adopt the language and ratify the treaty at the country level. We will continue to keep you updated on campaign developments and the critical moments where we need your support.
What you need to know
Shell, a notorious global oil giant, recently turned on a massive new facility on the Pennsylvania side of the Ohio River Valley. The pollution from this new complex — which converts oil into single-use plastic products — threatens residents’ health, environment, and entire way of life in the Ohio River Valley.
This Shell plant has already been charged with more than a dozen safety violations this year, and had to pay a $10 million fine. Meanwhile, local government officials failed to produce an acceptable emergency preparedness plan and even canceled a town hall event that community members organized for residents to share their concerns.
