Climate researcher skeptical before the UN Ocean Conference-DiePresse.com

Before the UN Ocean Conference in Nice from Monday, the climate researcher Mojib Latif referred to the worrying state of the seas. « The oceans were simply forgotten for a long time, » Latif told the newspapers of the Bavaria media group on Saturday. « Only in recent years has their deployed state come to the fore. » Latif was rather skeptical about the chances of success of the conference.

The trend of sea heat due to climate change should not be stopped at short notice anyway. In addition, there are « currently the very worst conditions that we have ever had for environmental protection ». More than ever, the focus is on profit striving.

« This has to do with the fact that we have recently experienced a change in the political landscape, with which autocratic systems, like now in the USA, » said Latif. However, international cooperation is less in demand.

To get the end of plastic waste only by bans

One of the topics in Nice is the increase in plastic waste in the world’s oceans. « In my opinion, the huge plastic problem can only be banned under control, » said Latif. « But there are powerful lobby interests, not least the mighty oil industry, and the countries concerned, » because plastic is made from crude oil, warned the scientist.

The UN Ocean Conference, which takes place every four years, is considered the most important international summit for marine protection. The Greenpeace environmental protection organization therefore called on the Austrian Federal Government on Saturday to use clearly and bindingly to protect the oceans. Because even a Greenpeace report would show that the state of the world’s oceans was worrying like never before. The global universe protection agreement would only come into force if it was ratified by at least 60 countries. So far, however, only 31 states have done this. Greenpeace asked the Austrian federal government to finally ratify the agreement.

« Our oceans are overfished and dirty. The states have to pull together in Nice in order to stop the exploitation of the sea. Austria’s federal government also has to meet their responsibility and finally ratify the high-level protection agreement, » said Greenpeace spokeswoman Ursula Bittner. (APA/AFP)