Tag: Ocean Conservancy

Sustained NOAA Funding is a Win for All of Us

Stuart Mitchell

The House has voted to advance a budget bill that would maintain funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) until September 2026. NOAA provides essential services in support of people and our planet – from tracking our weather and climate, to managing ocean health and fisheries, to supporting emergency first responders. Without federal policymakers providing strong funding for NOAA during the annual appropriations process, there is a risk these essential services could lapse. Jeff Watters, Ocean Conservancy’s vice president for external affairs, issued the following statement in response:…

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Groundbreaking Research Identifies Lethal Dose of Plastics for Seabirds, Sea Turtles and Marine Mammals: “It’s Much Smaller Than You Might Think”

Stuart Mitchell

The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences recently released a new study, “A quantitative risk assessment framework for mortality due to macroplastic ingestion in seabirds, marine mammals, and sea turtles.” Led by Ocean Conservancy researchers, the peer-reviewed paper is the most comprehensive study yet to quantify the extent to which a range of plastic types — from soft, flexible plastics like bags and food wrappers; to balloon pieces; to hard plastics ranging from fragments to whole items like beverage bottles — result in the death of seabirds, sea turtles,…

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“Disgraceful”: IMO Misses Boat on Tackling Shipping’s Contribution to Climate Change

Stuart Mitchell

The International Maritime Organization failed to adopt the world’s first-ever global, legally binding carbon price—postponing for a year a vote on the measure at a meeting today in London. The agreement would have dictated that all large ships operating globally, including cruise ships, are required to slash emissions 17% by 2028—with increasing emission reduction targets thereafter—or pay a fee. Currently, the global shipping sector runs on some of the dirtiest fossil fuels and accounts for 3% of global carbon emissions—polluting the ocean and imperling the health of people in coastal…

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World’s First Global, Legally Binding Carbon Tax to Slash Emissions, Safeguard Ocean

Stuart Mitchell

The world’s first-ever global, legally binding carbon price—for any industry—is on the table for adoption at the upcoming International Maritime Organization (IMO) meeting from October 14-17 in London. If the IMO Net-Zero Framework is adopted, all large ships operating globally, including cruise ships, would be required to slash emissions by 17% by 2028—with increasing emission reduction targets thereafter—or pay a fee. Currently, the global shipping industry runs on some of the dirtiest fossil fuels and accounts for 3% of global carbon emissions—polluting the ocean and imperiling the health of people in…

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Chile, UK and Madagascar Join Global Effort to Put the Ocean at the Center of National Climate Plans

Stuart Mitchell

At a ministerial-level New York City Climate Week event last month, Chile, the UK and Madagascar committed to the Blue NDC Challenge, underscoring both the economic and environmental value of protecting the ocean. The initiative urges coastal nations to integrate ocean-focused actions into their climate plans – nationally determined contributions (NDCs) – ahead of COP30. The NDCs are the cornerstone of global climate action under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), serving as investment plans and the primary tool for limiting global warming. With these new members, the…

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