Up until 2050 the oceans will have more plastics that fish. Namely, thousands marine organisms die every year after swallowing too much plastics, or being trapped in them. However, there are five species that plastic pollution has affected the most. These are sea turtles, fish, seals, sea birds and whales.
ESPO congratulated the Port of Ceuta (Spain), Shannon Foynes Port Company (Ireland) and Port of Melilla (Spain) for receiving EcoPorts’ environmental management standard. Isabelle Ryckbost, ESPO’s Secretary General, Eamonn O’Reilly, ESPO’s Chairman, and Sotiris Raptis, EcoPorts coordinator, handed over the PERS certificates to the ports’ representatives during the annual ESPO Conference in Livorno.
Former UK Energy and Climate Secretary Sir Ed Davey urged the private and public sector funds to begin divesting from fossil fuel assets and instead invest in clean or green technology, which will in turn provide good returns. Sir Davey expressed this opinion during the House of Commons discussion regarding the financial and ethical risks of investments in fossil fuel companies by pension funds.
On May 22, Microsoft announced a new wind energy agreement in the Netherlands. Microsoft will buy 90 MW from the 731.5 MW offshore wind project, Borssele III/IV, from Dutch sustainable energy company and wind farm developer Eneco. Eneco will provide Microsoft’s data centers with green power for 15 years beginning in 2022.
In light of BP’s annual general meeting, Helge Lund, BP’s Chairman, wrote an op-ed to the Financial Times, explaining why the oil company is in favour of the Climate Action 100+ resolution and why it aims to a quick transition to a low carbon energy system.
The World Ocean Council (WOC) announced its collaboration with the Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project and the Global Blue Economy Business Organization to improve the mapping of the world’s ocean floor. WOC will support the Seabed 2030 vision and the ways in which organizations in the maritime community can collect and contribute bathymetric data to Seabed 2030.
On May 3 the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) voted measures into effect in order to reduce the incidence of tourist ships striking whales around the Antarctic Peninsula. These measures will apply from July 1, before the start of the 2019-20 Antarctic travel season, which starts in October.
Marks & Spencer and Waitrose & Partners have signed the Environmental Justice Foundation’s Charter for Transparency. They now join the Co-op, Sainsbury’s and Tesco in making a pledge to make sure their seafood supply chains are free from illegal fishing and human rights abuse. According to EJF, this is a significant step forward, as together these five companies represent the vast majority of grocery sales in the UK.
On Monday, May 13, the Duke of Cambridge participated in a meeting of United for Wildlife Taskforces, focusing on the financial and transport sector. The meeting marks the first time the two groups have come together. The Duke of Cambridge during his speech applauded Taskforces’ work in fighting illegal activities that take advantage of wildlife.
Global energy investment stabilised in 2018, totaling more than USD 1.8 trillion and ending three consecutive years of decline, as capital spending on oil, gas and coal supply bounced back while investment stalled for energy efficiency and renewables, according to IEA’s latest annual review.
