The European Parliament officially approved today the new European Commission, which will make fighting climate change one of its top priorities. To mitigate climate change, Oceana calls upon the new Commission to ensure ocean restoration and protection are fully integrated into the European Green Deal. The new Commission is expected to start its five-year term on 1 December, just one day before the UN Climate Change conference starts in Madrid.
“The EU must deliver an ambitious European Green Deal that protects the ocean — our critical ally in fighting the climate crisis. Underwater life is out of sight, but cannot be out of mind”, stressed Pascale Moehrle, Executive Director of Oceana in Europe. “If the EU wants to truly steer global change, it has to be credible and lead by example. Current environmental laws are not being fully implemented and deadlines and targets are being missed.”
Oceana urges the European Commission to include these ocean-based climate solutions in the European Green Deal:
Europe’s ambition is to become the world’s first climate-neutral continent by 2050. The European Green Deal will be the EU agenda that drives the ecological transition. This is in direct response to citizen demands for strong action against climate change, mass extinction and environmental destruction. Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans will lead the flagship project, supported by Virginijus Sinkevičius, Commissioner responsible for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries.
Oceana urges the Commission and EU Member States to meet their legal obligations and fully implement the current Common Fisheries Policy and Marine Strategy Framework Directive which aim to achieve sustainable fisheries, recover fish stocks and put an end to pollution, thus bringing back healthy seas by 2020.
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