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World Environment Day: We’ll continue to demand for justice – HOMEF

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The Benin City, Edo State-based Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) held a Forest Town Hall Meeting on Monday, June 5, 2017 in commemoration of World Environment Day in Abuja. The meeting was attended by about 150 people, including representatives from forest communities, civil society organisations (CSOs), government and the media. At the meeting, it was resolved that the organisation and its partners would continue to demand for justice for the environment and communities.

HOMEF-WED
Participants at the HOMEF World Environment Day conference in Abuja

Officials listed the outcomes to include:

 

Clarification of the Funding Source of Ekuri Community Forest

The following questions needs to be answered clearly and transparently: where are the funds for the Ekuri Superhighway coming from, what are the conditions attached to the funds and what are the implications for the economic autonomy of the community and state?

 

Community Sensitisation, Mobilisation and Empowerment

Any successful community effort will require proper sensitisation, mobilisation and empowerment. The entry protocol will include identification of the power structures in the community, individually sensitise the opinion leaders, organise collective community dialogues and connect the community with resources to exercise their human rights provided according to the law. This will enable the community negotiate appropriate compensations, where necessary.

 

Land Belongs to the People

A key bone of contention in environmental issues comes about from the lack of clarity (or wrong awareness) of the ownership of land. It was brought to light that land belongs to the people, according to combined interpretation of the Land Use Act as well as the Constitution of Nigeria. The government is a “keeper” of the land and cannot carry out activities that will infringe on the rights of the people, without their consent.

 

Regard for the Forest

The forest is more than a collection of trees. The town hall meeting resolved to demand a holistic regard for the forest and the intricate values it provides ecologically, socio-culturally, and economically. A plantation of trees cannot be used to replace a forest and the dependent communities that have existed for hundred of generations.

 

The Super Highway is Unlawful and Unwanted

The community representative expressed severally that while they are in need of good roads to serve their needs, they require a repair / upgrade of the currently existing road which was abandoned by the previous government, instead of an unjustifiable “Super Highway”.

 

Sustained peaceful protests and campaigns

HOMEF and all its partners believe solely in peaceful methods to creating change, including the use of all forms of media. Sustained protest and campaigns will continue to create the pressure required for the government to pay attention to the needs, voices and rights of stakeholder communities.

 

Community Organising

When there is a desecration of the environment, several communities suffer the impact. It is imperative for communities to come together, work in solidarity and ensure that they combine efforts to get their voices heard.

Former health minister, Babatunde Osotimehin, passes on

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Nigeria’s former health minister and the Executive Director of the United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA), Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin, has passed on.

Babatunde Osotimehin
Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin

The UN Under-Secretary-General and former head of Nigeria’s National Agency for the Control of Aids (NACA) reportedly died in the early hours of Monday, June 5, 2017.

Born February 6, 1949, the 68-year-old at a time served as Provost of the College of Medicine at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State.

Osotimehin was appointed the fourth Executive Director of UNFPA in November 2010 and was reappointed in August 2014.

Paris accord pull-out: Trump surrenders US global leadership – Greenpeace

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Denouncing President Donald Trump’s decision to abandon the Paris Climate Agreement, Greenpeace International has said the decision will cost the US its global leadership position and its share of the economic benefits of the clean energy transition.

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Greenpeace Africa Executive Director, Njeri Kabeberi

Greenpeace Africa Executive Director, Njeri Kabeberi, said: “Thursday, June 1st 2017 will be written in history as the day the US, under the administration of President Trump, turned its back on those who needed its leadership, ambition and compassion.

“The millions of people living on the African continent are on the frontlines of climate change, and it is critical that polluters are held accountable for the suffering and injustice global warming is already inflicting. Climate change impacts are already a daily reality, and action to stop catastrophic climate change cannot be delayed. Our global community will take action, and is already taking action, with or without the US government, and it is critical that major emitters like South Africa step up and take a leadership role.”

Jennifer Morgan, Greenpeace International Executive Director, said: “Withdrawing from the Paris Agreement will turn America from a global climate leader into a flat earth society of one. It is a morally-bankrupt decision that Trump will come to regret. Global climate action is not a legal or political debate; it is an inescapable obligation to protect people and the planet.

“Trump is surrendering US global leadership to real world leaders who are seizing the momentum to protect their country and the climate by transforming their economies to clean energy. We are witnessing a seismic shift in the global order as Europe, China and others lead the way forward.

“Almost 200 countries committed to climate action in Paris and only one has decided to withdraw. This is how far out of step Trump is with the rest of the world. It is the changing of the global guard – as the US bows out, world leaders, CEOs and people across the world can and are moving forward into the future.”

Greenpeace East Asia Senior Global Policy Officer, Li Shuo, said: “President Trump is taking his administration in the opposite direction to the rest of the world. While China cancels coal power plants, Trump cancels climate action.

“Trump’s attempt to sabotage the global transition to a safer clean energy future won’t succeed. It will only corner the US and present China with an opportunity to reap the economic benefits of America’s withdrawal.”

Bilbao hosts maiden authors’ forum for GHG inventories guidelines

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More than 190 experts will meet in Bilbao from Wednesday, June 7 to Wednesday, June 14, 2017 to begin work on a new Methodology Report to update the guidelines countries use for estimating greenhouse gas emissions and removals, bringing them into line with the new requirements of the 2015 Paris Agreement.

Kiyoto Tanabe
Kiyoto Tanabe, Co-Chair of the IPCC’s Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories

The meeting will launch the preparation of the new Report 2019 Refinement to the 2006 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (2019 Refinement). In particular the authors will elaborate the chapter outlines, allocate tasks among Lead Authors, and decide milestones between this and the Second Lead Author Meeting, which will take place in September this year. After another two meetings in 2018, the 2019 Refinement is planned to be finalised, and be adopted and accepted by the IPCC Plenary, in May 2019.

“Bureau or the IPCC Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories concluded that the 2006 IPCC Guidelines still provide a technically sound methodological basis of national greenhouse gas inventories; however, to maintain their scientific validity, certain refinements are required, taking into account scientific and other technical advances Gas Inventories (2019 Refinement),” said Mr. Kiyoto Tanabe, Co-Chair of the IPCC’s Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories.

The meeting is co-organised by Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3), with the collaboration of the Basque Government’s Department of Environment, the University of the Basque Country and the Spanish Climate Change Office.

María José Sanz, Scientific Director of BC3, said the 2019 Refinement would provide all countries with a common framework to move forward with the commitments arising from the Paris Agreement.

“Science must deliver in order to generate certainty and guidance, as an essential contribution to political action,” she said. “The choice of Bilbao to host this important gathering is a great recognition.”

The format and structure will be the same as the 2006 IPCC Guidelines (i.e. Overview Chapter and 5 Volumes) so as to make it easier for inventory compilers to use the 2019 Refinement in conjunction with the 2006 IPCC Guidelines.

Authors of IPCC 1.5ºC Special Report hold second meeting

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The authors of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C meet from Monday, June 5 to Friday June 9, 2017 in Exeter, UK, for the Second Lead Author Meeting of the Special Report. This meeting, bringing together 86 scientific, technical and socio-economic experts from 39 countries, intensifies work on the Special Report, which will be completed in September 2018.

UK Met Office
The UK Met Office is hosting the IPCC meeting

The meeting for the report, whose full title is “Global Warming of 1.5ºC, an IPCC special report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, in the context of strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to eradicate poverty”, is hosted by the University of Exeter and the UK Met Office.

The experts have the task of initiating the best and most comprehensive assessment of the status of knowledge on the climate system with respect to a warming of 1.5°C. The report will assess the impacts of a global warming of 1.5°C on both human and natural environments, as well as study current and emerging adaptation and mitigation options and their linkages with sustainable development, poverty eradication, and reducing inequalities.

During the second of four Lead Author Meetings, authors will continue the development of the report towards preparation of the First Order Draft, which will be subject to expert review from July 31 to September 24, 2017. All review comments will be considered for the preparation of the Second Order Draft. The iterative IPCC process supports the preparation of reports that comprehensively assess scientific, technical and socio-economic state of knowledge in a policy relevant but not policy prescriptive manner.

This Special Report is being prepared in response to an invitation from the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in December 2015 in Paris.

The IPCC will at a media briefing on Tuesday, June 6 at the University of Exeter present its work and the preparations for the Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C.

Super Eagles arrives Uyo for South Africa

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Nigeria’s senior national football team, the Super Eagles, is expected to to leave Abuja to Uyo in Akwa Ibom State on Monday, June 5, 2017 as camp opens for the African Cup of Nations qualifier against South Africa.

Super Eagles
Super Eagles

The Eagles began camping on Saturday as the team prepares to face the Bafana Bafana of South Africa at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Saturday, June 10, 2017.

Eagles Media Officer, Toyin Ibitoye, told Sportswriters the Eagles would be leaving Monday afternoon to have to have a light training in the evening, but full training session will start on Tuesday, for once a day, so as to maximise the day for the South Africans.

“Most of the players are in camp, but were released on Saturday and Sunday to spend some time with their families.

“Just before the close of Sunday, every body would be back to camp as almost all the players are already in camp,” Ibitoye explained.

The Super Eagles played two friendly matches as a build-up to Saturday’s game. The team drew one-all with Corsica and defeated Togo 3-0, all in France.

Meanwhile, Plateau United still leads the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) table despite losing 0-1 to Enyimba in Aba.

Enyimba clinched to the fourth position after the win. MFM Football Club of Lagos, occupies the second spot after a slim 1-0 win over FC Ifeanyi Ubah.

El-Kanemi FC of Maiduguri is third on the log, following a 0-2 loss to Wikki Tourists, in Bauchi.

Relegation battlers, Wikki Tourists, Katsina United and Remo Stars, all won their matches.  Katsina United beat Abia Warriors 1-0 as Remo Stars beat Gombe 2-0. ABS defeated Niger Tornadoes 2-1, the same margin Kano Pillars saw off Lobi Stars of Makurdi.

Earlier, a draw was recorded between Rangers International and Nasarawa United. The match ended 1-1.

By Felix Simire

Global marine protected area target to be achieved by 2020 – CBD

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With recent commitments made by governments around the globe, the world is on track to protect over 10% of the globe’s marine areas by 2020, announced Dr. Cristiana Pașca Palmer, the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

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Cristiana Paşca Palmer, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

This target was agreed by Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in 2010, and was also adopted by Member States of the United Nations as part of Sustainable Development Goal 14.

Since 1993, when the CBD entered into force, the area of marine protected areas in the world’s ocean and coastal waters has increased nearly 20-fold, from 0.3% to 5.7% today.  Since the adoption, in 2010, of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity and the Aichi Biodiversity targets, the area of marine protected areas has more than doubled, from 2.4 to 5.7 %.

With commitments made as of today by a number of Parties to the CBD, an additional 4.4% percent of marine area will be covered by Marine Protected Areas by 2020.

These national commitments include:

  • Increases in protected areas expected from projects already funded;
  • National priority identified by countries under their plans submitted to the Convention; and
  • Voluntary commitments announced in advance of the Oceans Conference. Three quarters of these new commitments have been made with implementation plans giving confidence that they will be carried out.

Focussing only on areas under national jurisdiction, 14.4% are currently protected; this is projected to rise to over 23% by 2020.

“The world is making tremendous progress in reaching this target for protected areas in our oceans, and the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 has been a catalysing force,” said Dr. Cristiana Pașca Palmer.

“However,” she continued, “we still need to increase efforts. We need to ensure that the growing network of Marine Protected Areas is representative of the different ocean ecosystems.  We also need to ensure that marine protected areas are managed effectively and fairly.”

“As we mark World Environment Day, these concrete steps towards protecting more of the world’s marine areas is another cause for celebration. Our planet’s biodiversity is critical for humanity, and all countries must redouble their efforts to reach our common objectives,” said Erik Solheim, Head of UN Environment.

Marine Protected Areas contribute substantial social, economic and environmental benefits to society.  They provide food security and livelihood security for some 300 million people, help mitigation and adaption to climate change and contribute to coastal protection and disaster risk reduction.  Rates of return on investment in marine protected areas are very high. Recognising the link between protected areas and human benefits, the Convention’s Programme of Work on Protected Areas and the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 takes an inclusive, people-centred approach to management.

The CBD has been described as the key international legal instrument for protected areas, supporting and fostering national and multilateral efforts in a comprehensive manner that contribute to achievement of the Sustainable Development Agenda. The date for achievement of the targets for protected areas coincides with the end of the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity.

Images: Faces at GEF-UNDP renewable energy inception workshop

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A three-day inception workshop that held from Wednesday, May 31 to Friday, June 3, 2017 in Calabar, Cross River State signalled the official commencement of the projects tagged: “De-risking Renewable Energy NAMA for the Nigerian Power Sector” and “Sustainable Fuel Wood Management in Nigeria”.

Promoted by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), the project is estimated to gulp $238,960,000.

The workshop attracted a diverse group of stakeholders, who actively participated during the two days of intensive deliberations.

UNDP-GEF-Fuel
L-R: Dr Anselm Egwunatum (Assistant Director, Environmental Conservation, Delta State Ministry of Environment), Dr Victor Fodeke, (former Director, Department of Climate Change, Federal Ministry of Environment), Dr Jason Yapp (International Consultant), and Mrs Ngozi Okoye ( Executive Director, Centre for Transformation of the Underpriviledged)
GEF-UNDP-power
L-R: Ewah Eleri (Executive Director, International Centre for Energy, Environment & Development), Femi Oye (CEO, SME FUNDS), and Biodun Olaore (Country Director, Envirofit International Nigeria Limited)
GEF-UNDP-fuelwood
L-R: Aideyan Ifueko, Omon Dania, Mary Ogbolu and Nkechi Isaac
GEF-UNDP-ECN
R-L: Victor Ogala (Technical Officer, Rural Women Energy Security Initiative), Kasim Abubakar (Technical Officer, Climate and Clean Air Coalition), Uwana Gabriel (Special Assistant, Cross River State Government), Grace Ibe (Administrative Assistant, UNDP-GEF Project), and Basil Evey Ereshie (Special Assistant, Cross River State Government)
GEF-UNDP
L-R: Elvis Usaka (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Agriculture, Makurdi), Dr Kwaghger Aondara, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Agriculture, Makurdi), and Ierve Isaac (Works and Housing Department, Logo Local Government Council, Benue State)

GEF, UNDP, government, investors commence $239m energy efficiency scheme

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A two-in-one, multi-million-dollar scheme aimed at ensuring efficient use of energy while minimising the emission of harmful gases has commenced.

UNDP-GEF-Derisking
Participants at the workshop on “De-risking Renewable Energy NAMA for the Nigerian Power Sector” and “Sustainable Fuel Wood Management in Nigeria” in Calabar, Cross River State

A group comprising the Global Environment Facility (GEF), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Federal Ministry of Environment, Federal Ministry of Power, Cross River State Government and a team of investors is supporting the implementation of the two projects, which was officially flagged-off during a three-day inception workshop held from Wednesday, May 31 to Friday, June 3, 2017 in Calabar, Cross River State.

At a total value of about $238, 960,000, the projects are tagged: “De-risking Renewable Energy NAMA for the Nigerian Power Sector” and “Sustainable Fuel Wood Management in Nigeria”.

NAMA, which implies Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action, refers to a set of policies and actions that countries undertake as part of a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

While the former (Renewable Energy NAMA) is designed to bring about a transformation in the electricity mix by accelerating the contribution of renewable energy in the power sector, the latter (Fuel Wood Management) aims at ensuring coordinated and sustainable usage of fuelwood for multiple environmental and socio-economic benefits, including reduced GHG emission.

The Renewable Energy NAMA is estimated to gulp $218,150,000, out of which GEF is providing $4.4 million, the UNDP $1.5 million, ECN $1.5 million, Federal Ministry of Environment $200,000, Federal Ministry of Power N350,000, Lagos Energy Academy $200,000 and a private sector contribution valued at $210 million.

Fuel Wood Management, on the other hand, has a total project value of $20,810,000 in respect of which the GEF is making available $4,410,000, the UNDP $300,000, Cross River Forestry Commission $1.9 million, UN-REDD+ Programme $4 million, ECN $1 million, Federal Ministry of Environment $2.2 million, Fortis Microfinance Bank $3 million, SME FUND $1 million, International Centre for Energy, Environment & Development (ICEED) $2 million, and Development Association for Renewable Energy (DARE) $1 million.

“Except for the GEF and UNDP contributions that come as physical cash, all other contributions to the project are coming either in kind or as investments,” discloses Etiosa Uyigue, the Project Coordinator.

Geographically focused in the states of Cross River, Delta and Kaduna, Fuel Wood Management seeks to reduce GHG emissions from the use of fuelwood in the country’s domestic, institutional and industrial sectors through integrated and sustainable fuelwood production and utilisation, and promotion of sustainable biomass energy technologies using output-based and market-based approaches.

“Cross River, Delta and Kaduna states are at the forefront of the climate change, forest and land conservation agenda in Nigeria,” submits Okon Ekpenyong, Director (Linkages & Consultancy) at the ECN, while justifying the choice of the states.

His words: “The UN-REDD+ selected Cross River State as a pilot to demonstrate its REDD+ readiness model. The UN-REDD+ has targeted Delta State as the next state to replicate the success in Cross River and the chosen communities have already been sensitised on the REDD+ programme and its benefits.

“Unlike the frontline desertification state, the Great Green Wall programme has also targeted Kaduna State as a buffer state to prevent future desertification. All of these programmes provide a sound baseline to superimpose additional GEF support for sustainable fuelwood management and clean energy access.”

Ekpenyong, an engineer, adds: “The project is designed to comprehensively address one of the major causes of deforestation in Cross River and Delta states and land degradation and desertification in Kaduna State; specifically, the unsustainable use of non-renewable fuel wood in rural and peri-urban areas

“The project is also designed to balance the supply and demand for fuelwood through a bottoms-up approach of leveraging private sector resources and provide inclusive financial incentives (start-up loans, matching rebate schemes) and market mechanisms for sustained market supply and demand for energy efficient stoves/kilns and certified fuelwood.”

The Renewable Energy NAMA, on the other hand, will develop a standardised baseline for the electricity sector as part of the development of an MRV (Monitoring Reporting and Verification) system for quantifying GHG emission reductions.

According to Ekpenyong, A GIS-based tool will be developed to guide private developers in siting geographical locations for PV, wind and biomass projects across Nigeria based on several criteria, including renewable energy resource potential, grid coverage and stability, environmentally sensitive areas, and physical infrastructure.

Concerning a demonstration project, he discloses: “For the purposes of the project, a baseline project has been identified as a 100 MW PV plant that will be implemented by Nigerian Solar Capital Partners (NSCP) in the North-East State of Bauchi.

“The NSCP project is the most advanced on-grid solar PV project being developed in Nigeria, and it has reached the stage of PPA negotiations.

“The project has also completed social and environmental impact assessments using the due diligence processes of multilateral institutions like the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB). The project is also benefiting from the technical and financial assistance of the World Band and AfDB under the Clean Technology Fund (CTF).”

‘Ocean Atlas 2017’ sounds wake-up call on escalating sea crisis

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Bothered by the unsavoury conditions faced by oceans and coasts, a group of publishers is calling for local action and global regulations to raise ocean awareness, inspire societal change and protect the seas.

Barbara Unmüßig
Barbara Unmüßig, President of the Heinrich Böll Foundation

The team, comprising the Heinrich Böll Foundation in Berlin and Schleswig Holstein, The Future Ocean cluster of excellence in Kiel and the monthly newspaper Le Monde Diplomatique, publishers of the “Ocean Atlas 2017”, describe the publication as a “wake-up call”.

“Human activity is forcing unprecedented change on our oceans and coasts. With only 2% of the oceans fully protected, these are some of the most poorly governed regions in the world. Pollution, overuse and climate change are causing loss of habitat and biodiversity. A global rethink and local action is needed, urgently,” says Michael Alvarez Kalverkamp, spokesperson for the Heinrich Böll Foundation.

According to him, the oceans provide half of man’s oxygen and regulate the climate.

“They are one of the most valuable ecosystems our planet has to offer. They grant us food, climate stability, energy and recreation, but we are overfishing and overexploiting them, treating them like a dumping ground for animal, military and nuclear waste. As climate change causes them to warm up, the sea levels to rise and waters to acidify, our oceans are losing their biodiversity and productivity. Meanwhile coastal dead zones are expanding due to loss of oxygen,” he stresses.

The publishers disclose that, in 12 brief lessons, the atlas puts together the latest facts and figures on man’s impact on the oceans.

“It explains why we are seeing a rapid increase in acidity levels, how 90 percent of globally exploited fish populations are fully utilised, and 20% of them even overfished. Plus, the atlas shows what an alternative to problematic offshore fish farms could look like, which doesn’t rely on pesticides,” the team discloses.

“As the primary regulator of the climate, the impact of man-made climate change on the ocean is considerable,” says Martin Visbeck from GEOMAR, who is also spokesman from The Future Ocean, Cluster of Excellence.

He adds: “If we cross certain climate tipping points we could reach a point of no-return. Our coasts, the ocean’s’ ecosystems and humanity would suffer. But there’s some good news: We can avert this catastrophe. For the first time the oceans are on the international agenda with the sustainable development goal 14 (SDG) which calls for responsible use of the oceans’ resources. This is the focus of our research in Kiel. We are developing knowledge-based solutions to help preserve the ocean and its ecosystems.”

“Deep-sea mining poses the greatest future threat to the oceans,” says Barbara Unmüßig, President of the Heinrich Böll Foundation. “Harvesting raw materials from the seabed will damage its fragile eco-system irreparably, before we have even begun to understand the impact it will have on the seas, climate and land. The International Seabed Authority has issued 14 new exploratory licenses since 2013. That’s as many as in the last 12 years put together. Mining will begin in the next few years. It is of the utmost urgency that we impose a global moratorium on the extraction of raw materials and deep-sea mining until we understand the potential consequences and have set necessary boundaries.

“The global political system governing the protection, management and sustainable use of the oceans is completely inadequate. It is poorly implemented and suffers from fragmentary jurisdiction. We need comprehensive governance with effective methods of sanctioning.”

“The oceans are pushed to their limits by pollution and waste,” says Dirk Scheelje, on the executive board at the Heinrich Böll Foundation Schleswig-Holstein. “Every year eight million tonnes of plastic rubbish end up in the oceans and the resulting microplastic sinks into the depths. Poisonous microplastic gets swallowed by fish which end up on our plates and in our stomachs.

“International trade pollutes our oceans with leaking fuel and emissions from 90.000 ships shifting nine billion tonnes of cargo every year. Cruise ships are a further burden on the oceans as they venture into more and more remote areas. Tourism with its construction, sewage and traffic causes massive damage to the coastal seas. It’s imperative that coastal and maritime tourism is made more sustainable, if we want to preserve the quality of the seas and coasts for the next generations.”

The Ocean Atlas will be presented by the authors and other experts at a side event of the UN Ocean Conference in New York on Thursday, June 8, 2017.

According to Kalverkamp, the Ocean Atlas is free of charge and can be distributed as a teaching aid to educational institutions. The atlas is available online here:  www.boell.de/oceanatlas

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