Washington, DC – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced a new global partnership with the United Kingdom, Costa Rica, Chile, and France today that will advance ocean sanctuaries in the fight against climate change. The countries formed the partnership in advance of the United Nations climate change and biodiversity conferences this year.
In response to the news, Greenpeace USA Senior Oceans Campaigner Arlo Hemphill said:
“It is incredibly significant that the U.S. and other countries are now partnering to advance the role of ocean sanctuaries in the fight against climate change. Our oceans are under constant threat — whether from climate impacts, overfishing, plastic pollution, deep sea mining, or oil drilling — and protecting at least 30 percent of them by 2030 is our best hope to help safeguard wildlife and tackle the climate emergency.
“Today’s announcement must pave the way for countries to come together this year and agree upon a strong Global Ocean Treaty to create a network of sanctuaries around the world. By signaling to the rest of the world that ocean sanctuaries are critically important in the fight against climate change, the United States has shown that it is willing to take a leadership role in making that happen. This is the year for bold action, and working to increase collaboration toward elevating ocean sanctuaries is a major step in the right direction.”
###
Contact: Perry Wheeler, Greenpeace USA Senior Communications Specialist, P: 301-675-8766
