The legally-binding treaty will protect the world’s marine life.

This past weekend, following two straight weeks of back and forth culminating in a marathon 36-hour session, the member countries of the United Nations have agreed to sign a new treaty to protect the biodiversity of the Earth’s oceans. This so-called “high seas treaty” will provide the means and resources for countries to better protect marine sanctuaries, including both the animals that live there and the stability of its topography.

“This is a historic day for conservation and a sign that in a divided world, protecting nature and people can triumph over geopolitics,” Laura Meller, Oceans Campaigner at Greenpeace Nordic, said in a statement.

“We praise countries for seeking compromises, putting aside differences and delivering a treaty that will let us protect the oceans, build our resilience to climate change and safeguard the lives and livelihoods of billions of people,” Meller added.

Monica Medina, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, told CNN that this new treaty “will help us achieve the goal of conserving or protecting at least 30% of the global ocean by 2030.”

“If we want the high seas to be healthy for the next century we have to modernize this system – now. And this is our one, and potentially only, chance to do that. And time is urgent. Climate change is about to rain down hellfire on our ocean,” Douglas McCauley, professor of ocean science at the University of California Santa Barbara, told CNN.