Catch up on the main nature policy news from July
In a nutshell: Negotiations for deep-sea mining regulation / Updates on WTO fisheries agreement / Suriname publishes updated NBSAP / Renewed call for ambition in Europe / Colombia officially begins ban on some single-use plastics
Deep seabed mining negotiations wrap up for 2024
The International Seabed Authority’s (ISA) Council convened in Kingston, Jamaica, for the second part of its 29th session. The Council discussed a set of rules to regulate prospecting, exploration and potential exploitation of deep seabed materials.
The session saw the first-ever complete reading of the draft mining code, aimed to be completed by mid-2025. Many delegates expressed that this timeline is unrealistic considering the many outstanding issues raised during the meeting.
According to the Earth Negotiations Bulletin, the negotiations progressed but diverging positions remain between countries wanting to begin exploiting resources as soon as possible and those calling for a precautionary pause or moratorium until comprehensive scientific evidence can inform decision-making.
In fact, during the meeting five new countries (Tuvalu, Austria, Honduras, Guatemala and Malta) joined the call for a moratorium or precautionary pause on deep sea mining, bringing the total to 32 countries.
So far, 49 companies have also supported the call for a moratorium, committing not to source materials from the deep seabed. The Business for Nature coalition is calling for the environmental, social and economic risks of deep seabed mining to be comprehensively investigated and for there to be scientific proof that this activity can be sustainably managed without harming the marine environment.
The ISA Council will reconvene in March 2025 to continue negotiations on the mining code.
WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies updates
In June 2022, members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) adopted the historic Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. The agreement must still be ratified by WTO members and, so far, 81 out of 110 have done so. Recently, Benin, Sierra Leone, Jordan, Comoros and Timor-Leste ratified the deal, meaning that 29 more formal acceptances are needed before the deal comes into force.
From 22 to 23 July, the WTO’s General Council held a session to negotiate complementary rules that address important issues left out of the 2022 agreement, mainly related to overfishing and overcapacity. Delegates, however, failed to reach an agreement in its latest meeting.
According to Carbon Pulse, EU and US delegates singled out India as the major blocker of the latest discussions as even though the latest draft had reached broad consensus, India heavily “criticized the text and called for major changes” preventing an agreement. Negotiations on the text are set to continue at the WTO’s 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Cameroon, at a date yet to be defined.
Suriname publishes updated NBSAP
Suriname has presented its updated NBSAP ahead of Biodiversity COP16, becoming the tenth country to have revised its biodiversity strategy to align with the Global Biodiversity Framework, also known as the Biodiversity Plan. The NBSAP has 20 targets for the country to achieve between 2024 and 2035, across four strategic pathways: conservation of biodiversity; sustainable use of biodiversity; fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the use of genetic resources and traditional knowledge; and mainstreaming and implementation.
Regarding the role of the private sector, the strategy indicates that it has the responsibility to support the NBSAP implementation, across participation in the achievement of various objectives. Particularly, Suriname has “set priorities and developed a plan for phasing out or reforming subsidies and incentives for the private sector that are harmful for biodiversity and for regulating incentives in favor of conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity”.
GEF Council approves new biodiversity funds
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council approved new funding for biodiversity, including projects to implement the High Seas Treaty. The Council approved nearly $170 million for efforts to address biodiversity loss, such as protection efforts in protected areas in Argentina, Namibia and South Africa. The bulk of the approved financing is directed towards climate change adaptation projects across 20 Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
The Council also approved $700,000 to support efforts in the Marshall Islands, Palau, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu to implement the High Seas Treaty, which is essential to implement the Biodiversity Plan but is yet to be ratified. Only eight countries (including Palau, Chile and Seychelles) out of the 89 signatory countries have officially ratified it. To come into force, it must be ratified by at least 60 countries.
Renewed call for ambition in Europe: UK’s new government promises to strengthen nature policies, and group of companies back EU Deforestation Law
The new UK government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, has promised to renew the country’s climate and nature policy ambition. Key pledges made by the government include reaching zero-carbon power by 2030, redrafting the country’s net-zero strategy, complying with international climate finance targets, among others.
Additionally, the government announced a rapid review of the existing Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) and the development of a new statutory plan to meet the EIP’s legally binding targets with a focus on cleaning up rivers, lakes and seas; creating a roadmap to a zero waste economy; boosting food security; ensuring nature’s recovery; and protecting communities from the dangers of flooding.
In parallel, a group of companies recently backed the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). From 30 December 2024, companies will only be able to commercialize products in the EU if they have ensured that they don’t come from deforested land or have led to forest degradation after the 31 December of 2020. Covered products include cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soya, wood, rubber, charcoal and printed paper products.
Businesses including Nestlé, Mars Wrigley and Ferrero sent a letter to the European Commission, showing support for the implementation of the legislation, while also urging the EU to provide more guidance and ensure coordination, to help companies prepare to comply.
Colombia officially begins ban on some single-use plastics
Colombia officially enforced its ban on some single-use plastics, following the adoption of the Plastics Law in 2022. From now on seven single-use plastic products are banned country-wide, including grocery store bags, magazines and receipts, packaging bags, laundry bags, plastic pumps and cotton swab holders, straws and mixers.
The government aims to gradually eliminate 21 single-use plastic products by 2030. Plastics industry representatives are working with the government through roundtables and reconversion plans to enable the gradual elimination of the targeted products.
Single-use plastics are among the products that the Global Plastics Treaty, currently under negotiations, strives to gradually phase out and eliminate. Governments will meet in November to continue negotiations. Leading businesses represented by the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty strongly support an ambitious treaty, with the support of Business for Nature.
Read the June news update to catch up on previous nature policy stories from around the world.
Don’t forget to read our policy recommendations to governments that cover several topics outlined above.