Asked by: Peter Aldous (Conservative - Waveney)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans that the UK will ratify the UN High Seas Treaty; and what steps he is taking to encourage global partners to do so.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Draft text for an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction - the BBNJ Agreement - was agreed on 5 March. It will be adopted by the Intergovernmental Conference at a further meeting, later this year. This is a landmark agreement for biodiversity and will mean much greater protection for over 60% of the global ocean.
The UK will work to ratify the Agreement as soon as possible, and work with global partners to ensure it is implemented quickly and effectively.
Asked by: Peter Aldous (Conservative - Waveney)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether it is his policy to agree a global high seas treaty that includes increased powers for the Conference of Parties before the fifth session of the UN Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Negotiations in the Intergovernmental Conference to negotiate a new Implementing Agreement under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) resumed at the UN on 20 February. The UK strongly supports the conclusion of an ambitious agreement at these negotiations and is working hard with international partners to achieve that outcome, which will include a mechanism for establishing Marine Protected Areas in the high seas. Negotiations conclude on 3 March.
Asked by: Peter Aldous (Conservative - Waveney)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps with international counterparts to agree a global high seas treaty before the fifth session of the UN Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Negotiations in the Intergovernmental Conference to negotiate a new Implementing Agreement under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) resumed at the UN on 20 February. The UK strongly supports the conclusion of an ambitious agreement at these negotiations and is working hard with international partners to achieve that outcome, which will include a mechanism for establishing Marine Protected Areas in the high seas. Negotiations conclude on 3 March.
Asked by: Peter Aldous (Conservative - Waveney)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to agree a global high seas treaty that includes a legally-binding mechanism for the designation of marine protected areas on the high seas before the fifth session of the UN Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Negotiations in the Intergovernmental Conference to negotiate a new Implementing Agreement under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) resumed at the UN on 20 February. The UK strongly supports the conclusion of an ambitious agreement at these negotiations and is working hard with international partners to achieve that outcome, which will include a mechanism for establishing Marine Protected Areas in the high seas. Negotiations conclude on 3 March.
Asked by: Peter Aldous (Conservative - Waveney)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
What steps his Department is taking to reduce the persecution of Christians overseas.
Answered by Mark Field
The Foreign Secretary has commissioned an independent, global review into the additional practical steps the Government can take to support persecuted Christians. The review will report by Easter.
Asked by: Peter Aldous (Conservative - Waveney)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
What diplomatic steps his Department has taken to support the implementation of the Paris agreement on climate change.
Answered by Mark Field
Climate change is an existential threat, but also an opportunity to drive a global clean economy revolution. Our diplomats and Climate Envoy are working, with BEIS and international partners, to ensure international implementation of Paris Agreement commitments and project UK leadership including our Clean Growth Strategy and green Industrial Strategy.