Background
In March 2023, UN delegates concluded negotiations for a global High Seas Treaty. This historic agreement generated press coverage and social media conversation across the globe for laying out a legal framework to protect areas of the ocean outside national boundaries.
But the work of the campaign was far from over. As the High Seas Alliance and its associated NGOs regrouped to plan strategy for the ratification and adoption phases of the campaign, the Ocean ISU analysed media and social conversation from 4th – 29th March. The insights report generated considered successes and learnings from coverage of the final negotiations to inform the approach going forwards.
Impact
Highlights from the analysis delve into:
- The unified message of multilateral success, providing respite from political fragmentation and criticism of international institutions.
- The highly personal nature of the political victory, with particular focus on President Rena Lee’s response.
- The prominence and misrepresentations of the ‘30% of the global ocean protected’ statistic.
See report here