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.
Update: On November 30, 2023, countries formally operationalized the Loss and Damage Fund on the first day of COP28 in Dubai, with over $700M committed to date.
The world’s 20 wealthiest nations are responsible for nearly 80% of total greenhouse gas emissions, while all small island nations combined account for barely 1%. But while developing nations contribute very little to climate change, they often bear the greatest burden.
The climate crisis costs communities billions of dollars in damages and claims precious lives. While catastrophic storms make headlines, warming temperatures, rising sea levels, and biodiversity loss receive less attention but have an increasingly urgent and costly toll for developing nations. These countries need global support for climate-related loss and damage.
