2022 has been a super year for the ocean and nature. We saw some advances with the Agreement at the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference in June to start curbing harmful fisheries subsidies. That set the UN Ocean Conference in Lisbon off on an encouraging footing for new commitments and placing the ocean squarely onto the international political agenda. Just now in December, COP15 in Montreal finished with a landmark declaration to implement protected areas on 30% of the ocean and 30% of the land by 2030. Strict implementation across all major ecosystems should form an effective rescue plan against the ground swell of species extinctions, but should not justify intransparent debt for nature swaps at the expense of the weakest in society.
Vedi News Letter >> “Together for a strong implementation”