By Janet Ekstract NEW YORK -In a statement to the press, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. is committed to “safeguarding the ocean through concrete actions and international cooperation.” Blinken made the statement on June 7, World Ocean Day. As Blinken said: “We must seek ambitious and innovative solutions now if we are to tackle the many challenges facing coastal communities and marine ecosystems.” He said that the U.S. “is working at home and abroad to advance marine protected areas and reach the global 30×30 goal to conserve or protect 30 percent of the ocean by 2030.” Blinken reiterated that it’s through the Ocean Conservation Pledge that “we encourage countries to achieve 30×30 in their own waters.” Blinken said that the new High Seas Treaty is a way to collaborate to “establish marine protected areas in places beyond national jurisdiction – a critical part of our collective efforts to safeguard the health and resilience of our ocean.”
Blinken said it was crucial to recognize the major impact that climate change has on the ocean including rising sea levels, ocean warming and acidification. He said “decisive action” is being taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support ocean-based climate solutions. “We are supporting initiatives to enhance the resilience of coastal communities and marine ecosystems through President Biden’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience and collaborating with island and coastal communities to implement adaptation measures like early warning systems.” Blinken said plastic pollution is a major challenge in the marine environment and that the U.S. is “promoting sustainable fisheries and aquaculture.” He added that these are key to food security and economic development worldwide. Blinken also said the U.S. is working “to combat the challenge of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.” He said the ocean is also at the center of “our Atlantic diplomacy with the Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation, collaborating with 38 coastal countries to promote and support sustainable blue economies, marine conservation, and scientific capacity building and exchange.”
