The link between plastic’s chemicals & harm to human health is mounting. Estimates are that in 2015 the health costs of disease & disability caused by plastic-associated chemicals were more than US$920 billion in the US alone. The parallels with the tobacco industry are telling.

'Land-based sources are responsible for 80% of marine litter, with 85% of it being plastic.'

On #EarthDay , Oxford researchers comment on the global plastic waste crisis, and the opportunities and challenges in moving to a sustainable plastics economy.
ox.ac.uk/news/2024-04-2…

Most plastics are currently produced with fossil fuels (93%). Recycled plastics account for 6% and the remainder are biobased.

Researchers Oxford Chemistry are working to improve recycled plastics, lowering the demand for primary plastics.

#ReduceReuseRecycle #EarthDay2024

Good news for #HighSeas and #ocean protection United Nations!

#UNGA established Preparatory Commission for the implementation of the #BBNJ Treaty. Necessary work to prepare the first BBNJ COP will start soon.

#HighSeas Treaty

Fostering diversity and inclusion in ocean science is at the heart of our mission.

The Early Career Ocean Professionals ensures intergenerational diversity within the #OceanDecade by empowering early-career ocean professionals: ow.ly/Q60B50RnPrg

Ensuring capacity development and equitable access to data, knowledge and technology across all aspects of ocean science is an Ocean Decade priority.

Led by UNESCO Ocean, OceanTeacher Global Academy is a global network of Regional Training Centres in ocean science: ow.ly/LvFt50RnPq9

Fantastic news for marine life and shared stewardship beyond national boundaries - EU Parliament approves European ratification of #bbnj Agreement. Now all 27 States need to complete their national processes but this is a critical step towards that goal!
High Seas Alliance 💙🌊

“Urgent action is needed at all levels.” Led by Monaco’s FPA2 a coalition of climate funders has pledged $60.8 million to protect 30% of the Mediterranean's marine ecosystem by 2030. Global Environment Facility (GEF) Bloomberg Philanthropies Tiffany & Co. Thalassa Foundation Our Ocean Greece bit.ly/3WcA9sm

🎥 Dive into the world of #coralreefs and learn more about the importance of coral reefs for local communities #ForCoral with Carol Phua
youtu.be/Nc3vE49NJYY?si…

🪸Most people do not understand that coral reefs and local #communities are inextricably linked. Healthy coral reefs…

Privileged to have been among an impressive crowd of ocean leaders to identify asks to achieve progress on key ocean fronts. Let's turn asks into #OceanOptimism

Stealing our grandchildrens’ futures! Many governments continue to approve new coal, oil & gas projects. UNEP Production Gap Report 2023 warned fossil fuel extraction plans undermine world’s chances of meeting our global climate targets. environewsnigeria.com/17-banks-join-… via EnviroNews

Notes in my diary from recently released “State of Science on Plastic Chemicals” report. Many thanks to report writers for recommending moves to comprehensively regulate plastic chemicals, require transparency on plastic chemicals, & simplify plastics for safety & sustainability

How do you🫵visualise a “Regenerative” Blue Economy?🏞️

New IUCN report may help you get there, defining and framing an outline for the RBE👇

iucn.org/news/202403/ne…

DCCEEW IUCN_Plastics IUCN_CEM IUCN_ecosystem

Ending harmful fisheries subsidies isn’t just an option—it’s a necessity.

@WTO members can deliver on their commitments to protect our ocean and support coastal communities by concluding the negotiations to #StopFundingOverfishing . pew.org/49DCZtI

Over 80% of Earth’s land connects to #watersheds leading to the #ocean , collecting about 11 MT of #plastic waste every year. We can prevent this from tripling by 2040 together. At World Economic Forum, FOA & Global Plastic Action Partnership are calling for #multistakeholder action to #BeatPlasticPollution 🤝

🫣 MTAs - Marine Trawling Areas

I am grateful to the Greek government for their recent announcement to prohibit trawling in their MPAs at Our Ocean Greece

Please EU Maritime & Fish follow their example. It feels very disempowering... 😔

Ministers at the first #Commonwealth Ocean Ministers Meeting in #Cyprus have called for collective ocean action ahead of #CHOGM2024 and #COP29 later this year.

Read more 👉🏾: bit.ly/3U9766m

#COMM | #BlueCharter

The Barcelona Statement from #OceanDecade24 identifies the following priority:

'Increase engagement with the health sector and better understand connections between ocean health and human health'

Read the #OceanPanel blue paper on this important area 👇
oceanpanel.org/publication/oc…

Patricia Scotland KC Shipping Deputy Ministry of Cyprus / ΥΦΥΝ Marina Hadjimanolis Cyprus MFA Peter Thomson Nick Hardman-Mountford PhD, FMBA 'This inaugural meeting of #Commonwealth Ocean Ministers has already shown its value as a forum for sharing, learning and driving change and your engagement is what makes it all possible.'

Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland KC, tells ministers at #COMM

#BlueCharter

🌏 Raise understanding of the value of #nature
🌎 Embed #NatureBasedSolutions into #climate adaption planning
🌍 Encourage investment
@wriclimate explores 3️⃣ steps to scaling up Nature-Based Solutions for people and #ForNature .
➡️wri.org/insights/3-ste…
Via @worldresources