Monica Medina, President and CEO of Wildlife Conservation Society and former US Special Envoy for Biodiversity and Water Resources, discusses the challenges facing ocean biodiversity including pollution, overfishing, and climate impacts. The podcast explores the role of oceans in protecting biodiversity and combating climate change, the impact of world events on policymaking, the importance of the High Seas Treaty, and the significance of ocean conservation for the US economy and climate.
Conserving and protecting the oceans is crucial to preserving biodiversity, maintaining climate stability, and ensuring the supply of oxygen on our planet.
Addressing ocean health issues requires global cooperation, accountability, and initiatives such as marine protected areas and innovative approaches like executive agreements.
Deep dives
The Importance of Protecting Oceans
Oceans face significant challenges from pollution, overfishing, and the impacts of climate change. These stressors have far-reaching consequences, including rising ocean temperatures and increased storm activity. Conserving and protecting the oceans is crucial to preserving biodiversity, maintaining climate stability, and ensuring the supply of oxygen on our planet.
Multiple Factors Impacting Oceans
Climate change, pollution, overfishing, and the dumping of plastic waste all contribute to the deterioration of ocean health. The ocean absorbs 90% of excess carbon in the atmosphere, leading to rising temperatures. Plastic pollution, including fishing nets, harms marine life and ecosystems. Overfishing and increased fishing activities pose threats to ocean biodiversity and food security. Addressing these issues requires global cooperation and accountability.
Efforts to Protect Oceans and the Role of Technology
Various initiatives and agreements aim to safeguard ocean areas, both within national jurisdictions and areas beyond national control. Establishing marine protected areas and sanctuaries is crucial in conserving fragile ecosystems and allowing nature to repair itself. New technologies, such as Global Fishing Watch, enable greater transparency and accountability in fishing practices. Public awareness and consumer choices can also drive the demand for sustainable products and influence fishing practices. Innovative approaches, like executive agreements, can complement traditional treaties to address ocean conservation effectively.
The global community has set a goal of preserving thirty percent of our oceans by 2030. How will we reach that goal? And what’s at stake for ocean biodiversity if that target is missed?
Monica Medina is the president and CEO of Wildlife Conservation Society, and the former United States' Special Envoy for Biodiversity and Water Resources.
Global Reboot is produced in partnership with the Doha Forum.