Governments Urged to Support "Zero Draft" Call to Action for Marine Pollution

Countries are being asked to support a "zero draft" call to action this week at the 2017 UN Ocean Conference.
Image: Clean Arctic Alliance

As part of its HFO-Free Arctic campaign, the Clean Arctic Alliance Wednesday said countries are being asked to support a "zero draft" call to action this week at the 2017 UN Ocean Conference in New York.

The initiative calls for an acceleration of "actions to prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds."

The call to action covers pollution from ships, lost fishing gear, ship strikes, underwater noise, and invasive alien species as areas that require focus and investment.

"We recognise, in this regard, the particular importance of the Paris Agreement adopted under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change," states the document.

The document is set to be formally approved by governments today.

"We seek a commitment from all 7.5 billion people on earth to join our crusade to improve the quality of our oceans. Let us all seize this moment in history to make a difference," said Fiji's prime minister Frank Bainimarama.

"To place SDG 14 at the very top of the global agenda alongside decisive climate action. We can do it. We must do it. Because the alternative in both cases is catastrophe."

Sian Prior, Lead Advisor to the Clean Arctic Alliance, commenting on the news, said: "at this July's Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting, IMO member states must support the action proposed by Canada to mitigate the risks of HFO use.

"In doing so, they must commit to ensuring that any resulting IMO measures are enforced, and that the use of heavy fuel oil can be finally banned from Arctic waters."

As Ship & Bunker has reported, discussions on the IMO greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction strategy are set to take place at the Marine Environment Protection Committee's upcoming 71st session (MEPC 71) in July.