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Welcome to the latest issue of the Seas At Risk newsletter.
In this edition we are focusing on the links between the climate and the deep sea, as we bring you news of a dramatic study released this summer highlighting the negative effects of climate change on ocean ecosystems. With the COP21 climate talks in Paris right around the corner, the importance of the deep seas as a carbon sink has been highlighted by scientists and activists. Seas At Risk has been working to ensure that shipping emissions are included in a global deal on climate change, something which has this week been supported by the European Parliament's Environment Committee. The deep sea was also on the agenda at the annual meeting of the International Seabed Authority, where environmental management plans for deep sea mining were beginning to be developed.
We have good news on the marine litter front, with the European Parliament's support for a 50% marine litter reduction target. The bad news, however, comes from a review of the existing Port Reception Facilities Directive that shows the EU fails to live up to its commitments.
From our members, we hear about the amazing success of the European Environmental Bureau's #NatureAlert campaign, which saw over half a million citizens respond to an EU consultation on nature protection. We also get hands-on information on how to positively influence Marine Protected Area management plans at the national level in a free webinar provided by the Marine Conservation Society.
We hope you enjoy this edition,
The Seas At Risk team
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Brussels - In a move supported by Seas At Risk and other environment NGOs Seven of the eight political groups in the European Parliament’s Environment Committee have written to the 28 EU Environment Ministers to insist that shipping and aviation be included in any global climate deal negotiated in Paris this November.
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A new international report on the effects of climate change on our oceans has served as a serious warning of the need for drastic cuts in CO2 in advance of the COP21 climate talks in Paris in November.
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Brussels – An evaluation of the Port Reception Facilities directive has found that it has been effective in increasing volumes of ship generated garbage delivered to ports, but that wide variety of cost recovery systems used across Europe are restricting the potential effectiveness in preventing ship waste dumping.
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Strasbourg - Seas At Risk is today welcoming the European Parliament’s call for an EU marine litter reduction target of 50% by 2025, which Seas At Risk and its members have been advocating.
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This July saw the 21st session of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) in Jamaica, where the pressing issue of how to regulate deep sea mining dominated the agenda. Seas At Risk joined other NGOs in calling for alternatives to this potentially damaging activity.
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The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries has been conducting a number of ongoing public consultations over the summer, many of which are still open or have been extended to facilitate greater involvement.
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Consistent protection of Marine Protected Areas from destructive fisheries - Webinar
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Seas At Risk member organisation the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has shared its experience of improving national management of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in a webinar this week.
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#NatureAlert campaign attracts over half a million responses in favour of nature protection
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Brussels - Over half a million European citizens have responded to a consultation on the EU’s nature protection laws to urge the Commission to protect and enhance existing rules such as the Birds and Habitats Directives.
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OceanCare works to combat marine noise in Mediterranean
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Seas At Risk's Swiss member organisation OceanCare is working to raise awareness of the deleterious effects of ocean noise on marine mammals. In particular they have been lobbying the United States' and Greek governments to prevent seismic testing that could seriously harm cetacean life.
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