UN Oceans conference could be crucial Click a picture to enhance it. Blue text = a clickable linkHere are some words from a Stuff newspost I read today. 'Greenpeace Aotearoa says a United Nations conference under way in New York is the world’s last chance for a strong global oceans’ treaty. 'The environmental group is urging the Government to back what it calls the “strongest possible” global oceans treaty as UN member states meet to hammer out the details of the historic treaty which will govern the high seas. 'Greenpeace Aotearoa campaigner Ellie Hooper said, if done right, the treaty would provide the legal framework to create ocean sanctuaries in international waters. '“The treaty will also protect swaths of the world’s oceans from destructive human practices including bottom trawling and seabed mining. This is a crucial moment in the history of ocean protection.”' Greenpeace is urging action now for 2030Today’s Stuff news item reminded me that Greenpeace NZ has been emailing me this week about the importance of this conference. Here is one of the statements they sent me. 'Scientists tell us we need to put 30% of the world’s oceans into sanctuaries by 2030 to allow the ocean to recover. Imagine a future where the ocean is protected and thriving. A strong Global Ocean Treaty with swathes of the high seas protected and managed by the right people will help make this vision a reality. After years of talking, now is the time for action.' What lies behind this move the bold black text in the ODP quotes indicates original clickable linksI went looking to find what lies behind the 30% plan and found in Our Daily Planet (ODP), this 2021 report from staff writer Amy Lupica. Here are a couple of her near-opening paragraphs: 'A new study published in Nature by 26 authors from around the world details the overlooked benefits of ocean protections that would be secured if countries protect 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030 — and provides a blueprint of the best areas for conservation. ' 'Protecting 30% of our oceans by 2030 could ensure the health of key biomes while also boosting ocean-reliant economies, many of which need a jumpstart due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ocean fisheries support millions of jobs and feed people across the world, and international trade relies on shipping and ocean travel. But ocean ecosystems also play a huge role in sequestering carbon and buffering coastal communities from worsening hurricanes. Currently, only 7% of our ocean is protected, and experts say that increasing it in the right places could yield a trifecta by boosting global biodiversity and the yield of fisheries while sequestering more carbon.' Two more statements from ODPHere is Amy Lupica again. 'Working toward the study’s three main goals, biodiversity protection, seafood production, and climate mitigation, could yield incredible results for the countries that increase ocean protection. The study was the first of its kind to evaluate the carbon impact of trawling, a widespread fishing practice, and found that trawling is producing carbon at the same rates as the aviation industry. The practice pumps millions of tons of CO2 into the ocean every year, putting pressure on the oceans already suffering ability to sequester carbon. But this study found that the solution is relatively simple; 90% of trawling emissions could be eliminated by increasing ocean protections by just 4%. The study also found that strategically placed marine protected areas (MPAs) that ban fishing could boost the production of fish, and could increase the catch of seafood by 8 million metric tons compared to past years.' HopeI'm glad I read Stuff this morning and that Greenpeace emailed me directly earlier in the week. I hope that countries at this UN conference can agree to and then carry out 30% ocean sancturaries. I see the difficulties but my hope is high. To finish, here is a video which reinforces the 30% concept and maps how it might work. Please just click the arrow. □ John McInnes Friday 19 August 2022 ##########
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