{"id":79481,"date":"2016-09-19T12:00:51","date_gmt":"2016-09-19T11:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=79481"},"modified":"2016-09-14T18:35:11","modified_gmt":"2016-09-14T17:35:11","slug":"conservation-congress-sets-ambitious-target-to-protect-oceans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2016\/09\/conservation-congress-sets-ambitious-target-to-protect-oceans\/","title":{"rendered":"Conservation Congress Sets Ambitious Target to Protect Oceans"},"content":{"rendered":"

10 Sep 2016<\/em> – A major environmental conference of governments and NGOs has called on nations to set aside at least 30 percent of the world\u2019s oceans as \u201chighly protected\u201d areas by 2030, but delegates said opposition from China, Japan and South Africa had seriously undermined chances of success.<\/p>\n

Ambitious and controversial, motion 53 was passed in Honolulu at the World Conservation Congress held by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and its nearly 1,400 members who meet in plenary session every four years.<\/p>\n

\"Clownfish<\/a>

Clownfish on the Great Barrier Reef. Credit: Jan Derk\/public domain<\/p><\/div>\n

Without consensus, and with major nations opposed, delegates said privately the vote could prove to be largely symbolic.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Only about two percent of the world\u2019s oceans are currently designated as marine protected areas. Speaking at the congress opening ceremony on September 1, President Tommy Remengesau of Palau, whose atolls are threatened by climate change and rising sea levels, said he \u201cchallenged\u201d IUCN to follow the Pacific nation\u2019s example and set the 30 percent target for protected areas where \u201cno extraction activities\u201d would be allowed.<\/p>\n

The motion passed with 129 states and government agencies in favour, and 16 against. Among the NGOs, which make up a separate voting category, 621 were for and 37 against.<\/p>\n

But strong opposition was raised in pre-vote statements by China, Japan and South Africa, each with substantial marine economic exclusion zones. France spoke in favour, although with reservations, while the United States did not make its position clear. A breakdown of the voting is to be released after the IUCN Congress.<\/p>\n

China said the target of 30 percent by 2030 was \u201ctoo hard for the relevant countries to achieve\u201d. \u201cChina values the health of oceans\u201d and wants to extend marine protected areas but the proposal should have focused on the sustainable use of marine resources, rather than the size of area to be protected, a foreign ministry official said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe usual interests of China are at play,\u201d shot back a delegate from Costa Rica, noting the theme of the congress was \u201cPlanet at a crossroads\u201d, drawing applause from the floor.<\/p>\n

Japan said a strict prohibition on human activities was not the way forward. Not enough scientific data existed on the issue and there had not been adequate discussion, a Japanese Ministry of Environment official said. South Africa was also against, saying the \u201ctarget is way too ambitious and may not be reachable\u201d.<\/p>\n

The US has been ambiguous over the issue. Last week Sally Jewell, Secretary of the Interior, said the US had no position on motion 53 and that more scientific analysis was needed over how much of the oceans should be put under protection.<\/p>\n

Asked if the US could go further with its clean energy policies and stop oil and gas extraction in the Gulf of Mexico, she told reporters that many businesses and jobs were at stake there. \u201cThe Gulf is a very important source of US energy. We can\u2019t just pull out the rug from these companies,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

IUCN resolutions do not carry the weight of law. However, approval by governments and civil society with the backing of extensive scientific expertise make the congress an important platform for formulating and implementing international treaties and domestic legislation. But without consensus, and with major nations opposed, delegates said privately the vote could prove to be largely symbolic.<\/p>\n

Delegates said China and others were concerned that the resolution could influence further agreements under the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity, which calls for 10 percent of coastal and marine areas to be protected by 2020.<\/p>\n

The IUCN resolution made clear that the goal was to establish \u201chighly protected\u201d areas \u201cwith the ultimate aim of creating a fully sustainable ocean at least 30% of which has no extractive activities\u201d. However, in a gesture to some small Pacific nations heavily reliant on fishing, the resolution adds that this was \u201csubject to the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities\u201d.<\/p>\n

The congress also calls for the U.N Convention on the Law of the Sea to set about development of a mechanism to ensure \u201cconservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction\u201d, meaning outside nations\u2019 economic exclusion zones.<\/p>\n

Oceans, which make up over two-thirds of the Earth\u2019s surface, play an important role in mitigating the impact of climate change, acting as a buffer to absorb carbon emissions and slow the rise in global temperatures. The IUCN Ocean Warming Report released on September 5 said the oceans had prevented a rise of 36 degrees centigrade in global temperatures in the industrial era. Fish also help absorb carbon by depositing it on the ocean floor.<\/p>\n

Motion 53 said marine protected areas were \u201cimportant tools that help conserve the critical habitats, ecosystem services and biodiversity that support human life.\u201d It cited scientific studies that supported \u201cfull protection of at least 30% of the ocean\u2026to reverse existing adverse impacts, increase resilience to climate change, and sustain long-term ocean health.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some \u2013 including conservationists of iconic status such as Professor E.O. Wilson \u2013 say 30 percent is not enough. The 87-year-old professor from Alabama argues in his latest book, Half-Earth: Our Planet\u2019s Fight for Life<\/em>, that 50 percent of the planet\u2019s surface area should be designated as natural reserves \u2013 as inter-connected as possible \u2014 to preserve biodiversity.<\/p>\n

Wilson, who has a 15-foot male Great White Shark named after him, says fishing in the open seas beyond national boundaries should stop. Setting aside half of the world could save 80 to 90 percent of species, he estimates.<\/p>\n

\u201cHalf the world is possible,\u201d he told reporters in Honolulu this week. \u201cFor oceans it is no big problem,\u201d he said, noting that about half of the ocean\u2019s surface is covered by economic exclusion zones and half were \u201cblue waters\u201d. \u201cThat\u2019s basically what it is all about. Do it now. Put half the world aside\u2026 And we need to eat much less meat,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Debate over the concept of \u201csustainable development\u201d versus outright bans or prohibited activities was a constant theme throughout the IUCN Congress which adopted nearly 100 resolutions, some by consensus.<\/p>\n

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