Washington, DC – In collaboration with Greenpeace USA, actor, activist, and Native Hawaiian, Jason Momoa delivered a powerful statement today to delegates at the 7th Our Ocean Conference in Palau highlighting the special relationship of Pacific Peoples with the ocean.
Specifically, Momoa urged support for a Global Ocean Treaty that would enable the protection of at least 30 percent of the world’s oceans by 2030 and a Global Plastics Treaty that would address the entire lifecycle of plastic from extraction as fossil fuel to disposal and remediation. He also called for an end to illegal and unregulated fishing from the high seas, and to ensure seafood supply chains are free of forced labor. Momoa also called on the leaders to stop deep sea mining, the destructive new industry that could be launched next summer under the aegis of the International Seabed Authority.
Speaking via video message, Momoa said:
“As traditional users and guardians of the ocean, Pacific Peoples are calling on world governments to change the neglect of the past, to the opportunity of the future.”
World leaders gathered at the two-day meeting focused on climate change, sustainable fisheries, sustainable blue economies, marine protected areas, maritime security, and marine pollution are seeking to mobilize ambitious new announcements to protect the ocean, people, and planet. It follows the disappointing United Nations IGC4, which failed to reach an agreement on a Global Ocean Treaty.
Day one of the conference saw some important movement on that front as a new political alliance against deep-sea mining in the Pacific was launched. The Pacific Parliamentarians’ Alliance on Deep Sea Mining (PPADSM), a collective of Pacific leaders who share strong concerns about “large corporations” and “powerful governments” plans to exploit the ocean floor for minerals, released “A Call to Protect Our Pacific Ocean.” Citing the essential role that a healthy ocean plays in sustaining life on earth, and unprecedented threats from a multitude of human-induced stressors, they urged world leaders to join the growing ranks of governments, scientific authorities, CSOs, global leaders, and indigenous peoples worldwide opposed to the rush to mine the ocean floor.
Greenpeace has called for a ban on the industry, which scientists are concerned will result in significant biodiversity loss, the release of stored carbon, and the acceleration of climate change.
Greenpeace USA Senior Oceans Campaigner Arlo Hemphill, who is attending the conference, said:
“The Alliance is a welcome development. It’s good to see countries taking the time to assess what is really at stake and stepping up to protect our oceans for the sake of the people and the planet. More countries need to do the same. The impacts of deep sea mining may affect some communities like those in the Pacific Islands more than others, but none of us will escape the consequences of a depleted and unhealthy ocean. These conferences shouldn’t just be self-congratulatory talk shops filled with beautiful speeches and unfulfilled promises. The climate crisis is an ocean crisis, and we need real action from our leaders to address them both.”
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Contact: Tanya Brooks, Greenpeace USA Senior Communications Specialist, P: 703-342-9226, E: [email protected]
