June was a non-stop rollercoaster of Ocean pledges and proposals. It was a revelation to finally see G7 leaders listen to the Ocean and give both the 30x30 goal and Southern Ocean protection a look-in in its new shared agenda for global action to build back better.
While the G7 leaders were enjoying the Cornish seaside in Cornwall, OU Network member Sylvia Earle pulled no punches in an article on the need for Ocean conservation, proclaiming that: “We’re causing our own misery”. Now we need to see this Ocean-climate leadership strengthen further at key meetings in the coming months, from CCAMLR to COP15, to the G20 in Rome and COP26 in Glasgow. There’s everything to play for, for our planet and our Ocean.
Speaking of playing, The Navigator leaves you with this extra-large bumper edition before taking our traditional Northern summer break to a virtual beach somewhere in the world. See you in September!
Seen from the Lighthouse– What's happening now?
Are we days away from a WTO deal on fisheries subsidies?
After more than 20 years of negotiations, we could be just 2 weeks away from a global agreement to eliminate fisheries subsidies that contribute to overfishing and overcapacity. WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Chair of the fisheries subsidies negotiations, Ambassador Santiago Wills of Colombia, sent a joint message on World Ocean Day (8th June) calling on Governments to deliver an agreement at the Ministerial Meeting being held on 15th July. The Chair stressed that this is the time to show leadership, to find the political will, and repay this debt to the global community and our Ocean. Most importantly, he insists that it is doable and that there is now a new draft text currently being worked on to produce a clean text for the July meeting. But it is not a done deal. On 14th June, the Director-General warned that “we are moving but we are far from doing the job. It has taken a long time and we still have large gaps.” She calls on all delegates to up the pace and be “ready to roll up your sleeves to work” because “our job is to protect the fish and to protect the many millions of fisher men and women who directly depend on the fish.”
As ever, some states are still intent on manoeuvring the negotiations to include exemptions and preserve certain subsidies, for example for fuel, but these positions run contrary to the mandate given to WTO by SDG 14.6. They also risk postponing or even scuppering the deal. As we enter the – dare we dream! – final phase of the negotiations, WTO member states need to be prepared to make tough calls and close the remaining gaps by the July meeting so they can deliver an agreement to curb state support for harmful fishing. After two decades of talk, now is the time for a final agreement – the Ocean and its fish have waited long enough!
Ditch fossil fuels and deliver Ocean health to get to Net Zero
A landmark report released by the International Energy Agency shows that there is a viable pathway to achieving net-zero emissions in 2050, but it is very narrow and requires a total transformation of how we produce, transport and use energy globally. It also leaves very little room for fossil fuels in a net zero world and indicates that renewables need to overtake coal within 5 years to secure the 1.5C goal. What the roadmap to net zero could mean for economies, citizens and governments can be seen in these 4 charts. Unsurprisingly, the report warns that pledges made by governments to date – even if fully achieved – fall far short of what’s needed and that this is a “critical year at the start of a critical decade for these efforts” to turn the world’s energy system from one dominated by fossil fuels into a future “powered predominantly by renewable energy like solar and wind”.
To drive the message home even harder, new research by Oxfam and the Swiss Re Institute shows that – following current trends and policies – the climate crisis will shrink G7 economies by twice as much as COVID-19 by 2050, wiping out 8.5% of GDP a year, or nearly $5 trillion. And, of course, the Ocean is a key part of the solution to the crisis. A new report by the World Resources Institute reveals that incorporating just 4 Ocean-based activities into Nationally Determined Contributions could contribute more than 20% of the emission reduction needed to keep the world on a 1.5C pathway. These 4 activities are: protection of blue carbon coastal ecosystems; well managed oceanic and coastal fisheries; Ocean-based renewable energy; and decarbonized Ocean-based transport. Any viable route to net zero must prioritize Ocean action.
Optimism and inspiration at launch of Decade of Ocean Science
The UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development has begun! A virtual High-Level Launch of the Ocean Decade was hosted by the German government and UNESCO IOC on 1st June to celebrate the start of the Ocean Decade. It was the first in a unique, multidisciplinary series of events taking place from June 2021 to July 2022. President of the UN General Assembly, Volkan Bozkir insisted: “Our planet’s relationship with the Ocean must change. There is an appetite for this change. People do not want to live from one crisis to the next.” He declared: “Let’s not kick the can down the road… Let’s work to inspire optimism for a better tomorrow.” Wise words, as – while advancing Ocean science is vital – that does not mean we don’t already know more than enough to act. This must be a Decade of learning while doing. Research, education, communication, and action all need to be pursued simultaneously throughout the Decade to harness the science we need to create the Ocean we want. As actor and activist Maggie Q said at the launch: “We are not powerless. We are more powerful than we believe. When we fight for the health of our Ocean, we are fighting for the majority of our planet.” Find out how you can channel this power and get involved in the Ocean Decade here.
Central Arctic Fishing Moratorium finally comes into effect
After years in the making, an international agreement to temporarily stop commercial fishing in the international waters of the Central Arctic Ocean has finally come into force. The Agreement to Prevent Unregulated High Seas Fisheries in the Central Arctic Ocean signed by Arctic countries and distant water fishing nations, including China, Japan and South Korea commits to no commercial commercially in the region until much more is understood regarding the potential impacts on the ecosystem and that sustainable regulations are in place. The moratorium will remain in force for 16 years, with options to extend it every five years, unless a country objects or fisheries management structures have been put in place. This time out will enable more scientific research in the region to better understand the impacts of climate change on its fish stocks and Arctic marine life. A precautionary suspension to protect marine life.
Ocean Unite will be speaking in sessions at the Caribbean Conservation Finance Congress 2021, 6th-8th July on the importance of ocean protection and 30x30. Join to hear from leaders in conservation finance from across the Caribbean and the world. Register here.
OU Network member Chris Bertish set off on World Ocean Day on his TransPacific Wing project, attempting to complete the world’s first wingfoil crossing of the Pacific to shine a light on the need to protect 30% of the Ocean by 2030.
On World Ocean Day, Ocean Unite became an Institutional Partner for the World Climate Foundation’s WBSummit2021.
The Irish Environmental Network is looking for a Marine Campaign Coordinator. Interested? Find the job application information here.
Final High Seas Treaty talks pushed back to 2022
The COVID-delayed 4th and (hopefully!) final negotiation session for the BBNJ agreement at the UN has been pushed even further over the horizon to the earliest date in 2022 – but the goal of a strong and binding High Seas Treaty is still within reach. It is vital that pandemic postponements do not cause us to drift off course: A High Seas Treaty Can Help Safeguard Ocean Health for Generations to Come – as this interview with marine scientist Doug McCauley reminds us. Also this article by the High Seas Alliance and Ocean Unite Network member Geneviève Pons focusing on the Indian Ocean highlights keenly the failings of the current governance system and why we need to keep the momentum alive and tell world leaders to protect our great Ocean commons with a High Seas Treaty. Explore the High Seas Alliance’s revamped High Seas Treaty Tracker – your one stop shop for everything BBNJ – and support this new petition launched on 10th June at the Nobel Peace Center and High Seas Alliance event ‘The Forgotten Half of the Planet – The High Seas’. For those who missed it you can watch the whole event on YouTube.
G20 Leaders headed for Rome
The Summit of the G20 Heads of State and Government will be held in Rome on 30th & 31st October and aim at improving coordination on critical global issues and building political momentum set by the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement. Under the Italian Presidency, this year’s G20 is focusing on three broad, interconnected pillars of action – People, Planet, Prosperity – and intends to take the lead in ensuring a swift international response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In its Press Briefing after the G7, the White House wrote that, “we look forward to working alongside our G20 partners and with all relevant International Organizations to secure a cleaner, greener, freer, fairer and safer future for our people and planet.”
IUCN World Conservation Congress
Nature will be on the agenda from 3rd-11th September at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Marseille. Held every four years, the Congress allows IUCN's 1400 Member organizations to democratically determine the most pressing issues and actions in nature conservation. The IUCN Member’s Assembly will conclude on 10th September. Coming just weeks ahead of CBD COP15, this meeting is an important opportunity to advance progress towards finalizing the Post-2020 global biodiversity framework and securing the 30x30 goal, which originated at IUCN and was first approved by the World Conservation Congress in 2016.
G7 verdict: triumph for Ocean-climate commitments or shallow wash out?
When the leaders of the G7 states met in Cornwall on 11th-13th June they had a big agenda and even bigger expectations – but did they Listen to the Ocean? Yes and no. In the weeks before the Summit, experts and environmentalists were avidly demanding action to protect the Ocean and scientists called for strong commitments on polar regions, plastic pollution, and treating the Ocean as a central part of climate solutions. A major report from 50 leading scientists on the interconnected climate and nature crises reminded the G7 that they have a choice: solve both or solve neither. Signs were good that the message was trickling through including through a “message in a bottle” to the G7 where 7 bottles fitted with GPS trackers were released along the south coast of the UK to gather vital data on how plastic moves across the Ocean and the potential risk it poses to marine wildlife along the way. Check the bottles’ progress here.
So, what’s the verdict of the self-proclaimed first ever net zero G7 Summit? The new G7 2030 Nature Compact committed world leaders to supporting global consensus and taking bold action for delivery of ambitious outcomes for nature in 2021. The Leaders’ Summit Communique unites them all behind the global target to “conserve or protect at least 30 percent of our land and Oceans by 2030”, commits them to “net zero no later than 2050, halving our collective emissions over the two decades to 2030”, and asserts that they all fully support the commitment of CCAMLR to develop a representative system of MPAs in the Southern Ocean.
Not everyone was thrilled by the outcomes. Scientists at the International Programme on the State of the Ocean lamented that it’s “disappointing that G7 Leaders did not go far enough on Ocean protection or heed the voices of science.” On climate, the “light on details” outcome was accused of being “light and fluffy” and failing to either deliver the long-promised $100 billion in annual funding to help developing countries transition away towards low-carbon energy, or set a clear end date for phasing out coal. Commitments must translate into actions and it is imperative that governments get far more ambitious and concrete in their plans before COP26 in Glasgow in November.
European Parliament votes yes to ambitious Ocean protection
On 9th June the European Parliament took another bold step towards nurturing a healthy Ocean by voting for the ambitious EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030: Bringing nature back into our lives. The Strategy recognises the critical state of the Ocean and highlights the need to reverse marine biodiversity loss. Among the highlights for The Navigator are: strong support for the EU targets of protecting at least 30% of the EU’s marine and terrestrial areas; calls on member states to ban bottom-trawling in marine protected areas (MPAs) and sensitive coastal areas – a no-brainer given how damaging this fishing practice is; a push for the adoption of an ambitious global Ocean treaty to protect High Seas marine biodiversity; and support for a moratorium on deep-seabed mining until more is known on its effects on the marine environment. It was not an easy vote and there were attempts by some parties to water down positions, but the end result is a welcome strengthening of the original ambition of the European Commission last year and decisive call to action.
Post 2020 biodiversity talks soldier on in extraordinary times
Progress towards the highly anticipated COP 15 meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Kunming, China, on 11th-24th October marches on. The 24th meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) took place online from 3rd May-9th June. Participants were guided by this information document covering the key elements of the draft Post-2020 global biodiversity framework, which proposes a set of goals for 2050 as well as 20 Targets for 2030. Among the latter is “Target 2. By 2030, protect and conserve through well connected and effective system of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures at least 30 per cent of the planet”. The SBSTTA prioritized elements directly related to the post-2020 process to enable the Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework to develop a high-quality global biodiversity framework. However, the extraordinary circumstances prevailing due the pandemic and complexities involved in holding the meeting in a virtual setting led to the discussions being suspended on 9th June and the decision to finalize recommendations later at a physical meeting. The report of the SSBTA 24 can be found here.
Mission Possible! Drumbeat for Antarctic marine protection getting louder
The global campaign to #CallOnCCAMLR to create large new MPAs in the Southern Ocean reached a crescendo in June during a whirlwind month of Antarctic endeavors. On 24th June, at the annual Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM), event host President Emmanuel Macron sent an extraordinary video message to delegates – and the world – declaring how critical it is to achieve the designation of the new MPAs at the CCAMLR meeting this year and demonstrating his personal commitment to meeting that goal and the need to take action in the coming weeks. This strong stance comes as leading Antarctic scientists warn that the global impacts of climate change are pushing the Southern Ocean to critical tipping points in a new report published by the Wilson Center’s Polar Institute.
Momentum behind the designation of large-scale Southern Ocean marine protection has been steadily building. On 4th June, a webinar hosted by Members of the European Parliament and Antarctica2020 addressed how the EU can secure the largest act of Ocean protection in history. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Commissioner, Virginijus Sinkevičius, both committed to getting the job done this year. NGOs also called on von der Leyen to play a leading role in protecting large areas of Antarctica’s Southern Ocean. Antarctica2020 Champions and OU Network Members, Philippe Cousteau and Lewis Pugh, highlighted the key role of Russia at CCAMLR as panelists at the Saint-Petersburg International Economic Forum session on ‘Saving the World’s Oceans: Mission Impossible?’. On 7th June Ocean Unite held a virtual panel on ‘The Future of Antarctica and protection of the Southern Ocean’ at the Blue Water Summit, featuring OU Network Members Ashlan and Philippe Cousteau, Professor Cassandra Brooks, and writer/photographer/filmmaker John Weller.
Delving deeper into Antarctic wonders and threats, back in France on 10th June, the Polar Ambassador launched the first edition of the Polar Summer, an inspirational series of cultural and educational activities dedicated to Antarctica and the Arctic, including keynote speeches from Antarctica2020 Champs Geneviève Pons and Pascal Lamy. Providing a soundtrack to this political polar odyssey, the stunning music of Yo-Yo Ma and composer Marcus Goddard, and stirring messages from Antarctic photographer Paul Nicklen created a powerful homage to the frozen continent. Antarctica: Life Emerging is an incredible musical journey to the icy waters of Antarctica’s vast Southern Ocean. After watching the film, support the global mission for Antarctic protection by sharing this new #CallOnCCAMLR asset and sign the petition to help us reach 300K signatures.
And all this noise and efforts are paying off. Skipping over to Cornwall, on 13th June G7 leaders announced that they “fully support the commitment of CCAMLR to develop a representative system of Marine Protected Areas in the Convention area in the Southern Ocean.” The #CallOnCCAMLR spirit then travelled with President Biden and his EU counterparts to Brussels, where the EU-US summit concluded on 15th June with a joint “resolve to support the designation of new marine protected areas in the Southern Ocean.” Onward to October!
World Ocean Day splash back
If you were too busy to catch all the World Oceans Day action on 8th June, UN Web TV has you covered with the entire day of virtual discussions and celebrations available to stream here. Participants include UNSG Antonio Guterres, Mission Blue President Dr Sylvia Earle, and actor Gael Garcia Bernal, with the day culminating in music by artists from around the world. You can also watch the short film launched on WOD by Lewis Pugh, Ocean Unite Network member, endurance swimmer, and UN Patron of the Oceans, as well as his address to the UN. He urges everyone to ask themselves the simple question: what changes can you make today to help save our Ocean? Sir Richard Branson echoes that message in his WOD blog, where he stresses that Ocean risk isn’t a problem we will be facing in 30 years; it is a problem right now and we can all contribute to building Ocean resilience on World Ocean Day and every day.
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