One Ocean Summit: 4 billion euros against plastic pollution

One Ocean Summit: States pledge 4 billion euros to combat plastic pollution in the sea

The national banks of Germany, France and Spain, together with the European Investment Bank (EIB), have made a significant financial commitment of 4 billion euros by 2025 for the development of the "Clean Oceans Initiative", which aims to identify practical ways to combat plastic waste in the sea. The "One Ocean Summit" took place from 9 to 11 February in the French port city of Brest. Experts, activists and politicians from 42 countries - including twenty heads of state, some of them from outside Europe - took part in forums and workshops on the topic of "Life in the sea".

According to the participants, one of the greatest challenges of our time is keeping the high seas clean, which are located beyond 200 nautical miles from national coasts and therefore do not fall under the sovereignty of a state. In this context, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced the establishment of a "global coalition". The coalition is to include 27 EU countries and 16 non-EU countries and jointly conclude a treaty on the sustainable use of the high seas and the protection of their biodiversity. "We need to get the ball rolling so that the treaty can be finalised this year," she said.

Fourteen countries also announced measures to step up the fight against illegal fishing. These include improving controls in landing ports and mobilising national naval forces to monitor areas and fishing methods.

The oceans play a central role in the fight against climate change, which is primarily man-made. The "One Ocean Summit" also provided an opportunity to obtain supporting commitments from various economic players. For example, 22 European shipowners agreed to take concrete measures that affect the underwater ecosystem. The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the avoidance of underwater noise and the prevention of oil discharges are just some of the measures that fall under the "Green Marine Europe" label. A further 35 key players, including 18 European ports, have also committed to accelerating the expansion of shore-side power supply for harbour operators in order to reduce air pollution in port cities.

Other countries joined the coalition launched at the "One Planet Summit" in January 2021, which is pursuing the targeted expansion of protected zones on 30% of the world's land and sea areas by 2030. 84 countries are now members of this alliance. On the last day of the event in Brest, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that the national nature reserve of the French Southern and Antarctic Territories (TAAF) will be extended to the Crozet Archipelago, the Kerguelen Islands and the islands of Saint-Paul and Amsterdam in the Indian Ocean. This area will thus become the second largest marine protected area in the world.

Negotiations on a binding international treaty to combat plastic pollution will take place in Nairobi at the end of February.

Source: Euractiv France / David Basso