Do we even need to remind ourselves how critical are oceans to our existence? Fresh air, water, food, coral reef, and weather patterns necessary for growth of crops and so on. We owe all this combined support system to the oceans around the globe.
“A Blue Call to Action” is the name of a set of ideas by civil society organizations that seeks bold actions to save oceans from degrading into a bottomless state of pollution.
Concerned activists and philanthropists gathered for a two-day preparatory meeting in New York to brainstorm ideas and ways to protect oceans from multiple challenges. They presented their ideas to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, on Wednesday.
In June this year, a UN Ocean Conference in Portugal will draw attention to the need for such climate action.
The ocean’s ability to function as earth’s life support system is not just challenged but eroding. The calls for action particularly stem from preserving the oceans’ capacity to produce oxygen, sequester carbon and continue to serve as a source of food and livelihoods for billions of people.
Last year, the Oceano Azul Foundation partnered with Ocean Unite and Oak Foundation to bring together representatives of fisherfolk, indigenous peoples, ocean conservation organizations and foundations, to agree on common priorities and solutions needed to tackle the ocean crisis and raise the level of ambition for action, the UN said.
While loss of species and deaths of large fish due to pollution has shocked several people, still policymakers in several countries have not gotten into the crisis management mode.
The #Ocean provides the air we breathe, the food we eat, yet we barely understand its mysteries.
If we are to survive, there is only one way: we have to #SaveOurOcean!https://t.co/6xEgi998Xg pic.twitter.com/UfcephwW4b
— UNESCO (@UNESCO) February 5, 2020
In that regard, the June meeting may provide an opportunity to nations to come forward, own and apply solutions to save oceans and humanity.
The fact that the preparatory meeting of UN Ocean Conference in New York brought ministers, representatives from civil society organizations, the business community, intergovernmental and United Nations agencies, is a hopeful sign.
The year 2020 should inspire more people and governments to join the efforts to save blue oceans and through them the planet and its inhabitants.
