{"id":1736,"date":"2024-10-21T11:36:29","date_gmt":"2024-10-21T11:36:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/southasia\/?p=1736"},"modified":"2024-10-23T09:26:06","modified_gmt":"2024-10-23T09:26:06","slug":"greenpeace-south-asia-releases-new-report-on-climate-and-oceans-on-the-opening-day-of-un-biodiversity-conference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/southasia\/press\/1736\/greenpeace-south-asia-releases-new-report-on-climate-and-oceans-on-the-opening-day-of-un-biodiversity-conference\/","title":{"rendered":"Greenpeace South Asia releases new report on climate and oceans, on the opening day of UN Biodiversity Conference."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

21st October<\/strong> – As the 16th Conference of the Parties for the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 16) opens in Cali, Colombia, a new Greenpeace report, “In Hotter Water: How the Global Ocean Treaty can boost climate action<\/em>“, presents compelling evidence of the climate crisis\u2019 disastrous impacts on the ocean and coastal communities, as well as solutions forward.<\/p>\n\n

The report summarises scientific findings over the last five years which raise the alarm about ocean warming, coral bleaching, shifting marine species distributions, sea ice loss, sea level rise and extreme weather events.[1] Also highlighting a recent study, the report warns that the oceans\u2019 ability to absorb carbon dioxide may no longer be able to keep pace with human emissions.[2] All these changes have come at huge cost to the oceans themselves, and with profound consequences for billions of people worldwide.<\/p>\n\n

Avinash Chanchal Kumar, Campaign Manager for Greenpeace South Asia, said:<\/p>\n\n

\u201cWe must urgently take action and safeguard our best ally in the fight against climate change. Alongside drastically reducing carbon emissions as a matter of urgency, governments must ratify the Global Ocean Treaty that will allow the creation of large protected areas on the high seas. These would improve the resilience of marine ecosystems to climate change, maintain ocean carbon storage capacity and ultimately benefit us all.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n

While the ocean and climate crises are worsening, governments have been dragging their feet on measures to effectively protect the oceans. To this day, less than 1% of the high seas \u2013 the largest habitat on Earth, comprising 64% of the world\u2019s ocean \u2013 is fully or highly protected from human activities.<\/p>\n\n

Anita Rumeshi Perera, Greenpeace South Asia Campaigner in Sri Lanka added: <\/p>\n\n

\u201cThe ocean supports all life on this planet, and on the eve of the UN Biodiversity Conference we have displayed a giant inflatable octopus mascot at Lotus Tower in Colombo, to engage with the public on ocean conservation benefits. We are now calling on the new President and future government to make the signature and ratification of the Global Ocean Treaty one of their environmental priorities. Whereas climate change, heat waves and floodings now impact everyday lives we must act on straightforward multilateral solutions at hand<\/em>\u201d.  <\/p>\n\n

At the CBD COP 16, Greenpeace will also work to improve biodiversity funding commitments for developing countries, synergies between biodiversity and climate policies, as well as other ocean and coastal community support priorities.[3]<\/p>\n\n

ENDS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Contacts: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Avinash Chanchal Kumar, Campaign Manager at Greenpeace South Asia – India
Phone: +91-80-42821010
Email: avinash.chanchal@greenpeace.org

<\/a>Anita Rumeshi Perera, Campaigner at Greenpeace South Asia – Sri Lanka
Phone: +94773925597
Email: aperera@greenpeace.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n

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A Humpback whale breaks the surface as it heads south to Antarctica for the summer.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Notes:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

\u201cIn Hotter Water: How the Global Ocean Treaty can boost climate action<\/em>” report is available here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

At least 60 countries must ratify the Global Ocean Treaty by the UN Ocean Conference of the Parties (COP) in June 2025 for the agreement to enter into force 120 days later. After ratification, governments must continue to prioritise ocean protection through rapid and effective implementation of the Treaty.<\/p>\n\n

[1] Key facts from the report \u201cIn Hotter Water: How the Global Ocean Treaty can boost climate action<\/em>” include:<\/p>\n\n