Decision makers and key stakeholders need to agree a course of action that will give our Blue Planet the best chance of survival. To this end, a group of civil society and philanthropic organisations – including Seas At Risk – have developed a joint call to RISE UP for the ocean. This blue call to action was handed to UN Secretary General Guterres in early February 2020.
RISE UP sets out the common priorities, objectives and targets that are vital to tackling the ocean crisis and setting the ocean on a course to recovery by 2030. It stands for:
Restore ocean life
Invest immediately in a net-zero-carbon emissions future
Speed the transition to a circular and sustainable economy
Empower and support coastal people
Unite for stronger global ocean governance
Protect at least 30% of the ocean by 2030
Our world’s ocean needs to be sustainably managed if we are to safeguard the livelihoods they support. That means taking bold measures to end overfishing and put the ocean on a course to recovery, committing to protecting at least 30% of the ocean by 2030. All activities that damage the ocean should be prohibited, e.g. destructive fishing practices, oil and gas drilling, seabed mining, and the unfettered production of single-use plastics. We need to transition to a circular, low-carbon economy as soon as possible.
This is also made very clear in the Blue Manifesto – the roadmap to a healthy ocean in 2030, developed by Seas At Risk and supported by over 100 NGOs. Where the Blue Manifesto has a specific EU focus, RISE UP is a broader, more global call, addressed to world governments and businesses.
RISE UP is the result of a unique collaboration between philanthropic and ocean advocacy groups, indigenous peoples and fishers, all of whom are working globally to drive meaningful action to restore and regenerate ocean health. RISE UP with us and add your organisation’s voice to this wave of change.
Posted on: 7 June 2020
