First UN talks to save oceans start today

MIAMI: World leaders convene at the United Nations headquarters this week for the first major bid to solve the toughest problems facing our oceans — coral bleaching, plastic pollution, overfishing and rising seas due to climate change.

The Ocean Conference, which is taking place in New York from today to Friday, will attempt to rally nations, big and small, to make meaningful changes to preserve what is arguably the Earth’s most important resource, experts said.

United States President Donald Trump’s recent decision to withdraw from the Paris climate accord is expected to be a hot topic at the talks, which no highranking US officials are expected to attend. But despite Trump’s decision on Thursday to end US participation in the Paris deal, which drew worldwide condemnation, experts at the Pew Charitable Trust said the US had been taking part in crafting a broad “call to action”, and was expected to sign it.

“We are committed to halting and reversing the decline in the health and productivity of our oceans,” said the three-page document, which also expressed alarm at the impact of climate change on the ocean.

The US pullout from Paris means other nations will lead the way at the UN talks, particularly small island nations that have the most to lose.

“How can you worry about someone who is not in the room?” said Ambassador Ronny Jumeau, permanent representative to the UN for Seychelles.

“Look at who is here, who is sitting in the front row, and say ‘Now what are we going to do about this?’” AFP