Europe must lead the way in restoring the oceans

The European Parliament approved today in plenary its resolution on Ocean Governance.

The resolution is important because reconnecting the ocean and its ecosystems forms a critical step to address the ongoing environmental and climate crisis. Ocean waters produce half of the planet’s oxygen, regulating temperature on earth. The ocean holds the richest biodiversity on the planet and, through its ‘blue’ economy, provides 4.5 million direct maritime-related jobs in Europe.

EDP MEP Catherine Chabaud (Mouvement Démocrate, France) commented that the Renew Europe group in the European Parliament drove work on the ambitious resolution. She noted : “The resolution calls for an integrated vision of ocean governance! The EU must continue to rely on its maritime dimension, to add blue to the Green Deal, and spread its values globally.”

Ocean ecosystems are fragile, however, as human activity, plastic waste, pollution and forces unleashed due to climate change put the world ocean health under severe pressure.

The resolution comes in anticipation of upcoming conference on climate challenge in Sharm El Sheikh (COP27) and the conference on biodiversity in Montreal (COP15) later this autumn.

Chabaud added: “This resolution sends a strong political message from the European Parliament and marks the end of a year rich in major international events and opportunities. Let us continue to protect the ocean, our global common.”

At the initiative of the resolution, Renew Europe – where EDP caucuses in the European Parliament – calls on the European Union to take a leading role to protect the oceans while emphasising that sustainable management of oceans and seas. Future environmental conferences should focus this.

According to Renew Europe, to fully achieve the Paris Agreement goals, EU leaders must do “everything in their power to ensure the sustainable development and push for a more ambitious, integrated and systematic approach of ocean governance at international level. A healthy ocean is a precondition to mitigate climate change and biodiversity loss. There will be no healthy planet without a healthy ocean!”