The solutions to restore the health of the ocean – which provides us with oxygen, food, and livelihoods – are out there, and in 100 days they will be in the spotlight in Lisbon, Portugal, at the second UN Oceans Conference.
Billions of humans, animals, and plants rely on a healthy ocean, but rising carbon emissions are making it more acidic, weakening its ability to sustain life underwater and on land.
Plastic waste is also choking our waters, and more than half of the world’s marine species may stand on the brink of extinction by 2100.
But it is not all bad news. According to the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean Peter Thomson, momentum for positive change is building around the world, with people, especially youth, mobilizing to do their part to reverse the decline in ocean health.
The UN Ocean Conference which will take place from 25 June to 1 July, in Lisbon, Portugal will provide a critical opportunity to mobilize partnerships and increase investment in science-driven approaches.
It will also be the time for governments, industries, and civil society to join forces and take action.
