'The World Is at a Crossroads’: Urgent Climate Talks Begin in Poland as Negotiators Meet a Day Early
03 December 2018
Climate
The inaugural session of the COP24 climate talks in Katowice, Poland Sunday. JANEK SKARZYNSKI / AFP / Getty Images
Negotiators in the climate talks that will decide the future of the Paris agreement began meeting a day early in Katowice, Poland on Sunday as pressure builds to take meaningful global action against climate change, BBC News reported.
<p>The 24th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/cop24" target="_self">COP24</a>) is the first major international climate meeting since the UN's <a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/" target="_blank">Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change</a> (IPCC) issued an<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change-ipcc-report-2610866229.html" target="_self"> urgent report</a> that world leaders have only 12 years to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 45 percent of 2010 levels if they want to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The Paris agreement set a goal of limiting warming to "well below" two degrees Celsius, and talks over the next two weeks will determine how the countries involved will move towards that goal.</p><p>"The world is at a crossroads and decisive action in the next two years will be crucial to tackle these urgent threats," the presidents of the last four UN climate talks warned in a first-of-its kind <a href="http://awsassets.panda.org/downloads/this_2018_12_01_cop24_call_of_former_cop_presidents.pdf" target="_blank">statement</a> Sunday. "The challenges are there, as are the solutions. We require deep transformations of our economies and societies to build a better world for all. This must be powered by multilateral cooperation."</p><p>In a move BBC News called "unprecedented," Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, Moroccan politician Salaheddine Mezouar, former French Prime Minister Laurent Fabius and <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/" target="_blank">World Wildlife Fund</a> climate and energy leader Manuel Pulgar Vidal of Peru issued the statement calling on decision makers in Katowice to up ambitious climate action by 2020 in order to meet the goals of the Paris agreement.</p>
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<p>So far, the biggest commitment has come from the World Bank, which <a href="http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2018/12/03/world-bank-group-announces-200-billion-over-five-years-for-climate-action?CID=CCG_TT_climatechange_EN_EXT" target="_blank">announced Monday</a> it was doubling its investments in climate action to $200 billion for 2021 to 2025. The bank is for the first time earmarking $50 billion of that amount towards projects working to adapt to already occurring climate impacts such as <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/drought" target="_blank">drought</a> and <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/flooding" target="_blank">flooding</a>.<br></p><p>"We are clearly the last generation that can change the course of climate change, but we are also the first generation with its consequences," World Bank CEO Kristalina Georgieva told <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/03/we-are-last-generation-that-can-stop-climate-change-un-summit" target="_blank">The Guardian</a>.</p>
<p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="f1dc0" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="U6LIXD1576663235"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1069397617220689921" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">BREAKING NEWS⟶ @WorldBank releases a new action plan designed to boost climate adaptation and resilience to climate… https://t.co/rot7jbPtNJ</div> — World Bank Climate (@World Bank Climate)<a href="https://twitter.com/WBG_Climate/statuses/1069397617220689921">1543799235.0</a></blockquote></div>
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<p>While negotiators met early to get down to brass tacks, the main festivities kicked off Sunday with the arrival of a team of 40 cyclists who biked from Vienna under the banner of "Moving for Climate NOW" to promote <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/renewable-energy/" target="_self">renewable energy</a>.<br></p><p>"I commend the cyclists involved in this bike tour for inspiring the world to move in the right direction to fulfil the promise of the Paris Agreement," UN Climate Change Deputy Executive Secretary Ovais Sarmad said in a <a href="https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/12/1027261" target="_blank">press release</a>. "This is the most important COP since the signing of the agreement, and we need initiatives like yours to testify that governments, the private sector and individuals can work together to tackle climate change by committing to multilateralism."</p>
<p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="4137e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="KIKA9N1576663235"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1069261566024081408" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Overcoming borders and below-zero temperatures, the #4ClimateNOW cycling team arrived today at #COP24 in #Katowice,… https://t.co/r04DkwVbYc</div> — UN Climate Change (@UN Climate Change)<a href="https://twitter.com/UNFCCC/statuses/1069261566024081408">1543766797.0</a></blockquote></div>
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<p>Despite the urgent words of participants, however, there is concern from activists that the talks could be undermined by their location, a <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/coal" target="_self">coal</a>-mining town in a country that generates 80 percent of its energy from the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/fossil-fuels" target="_self">fossil fuel</a> that the IPCC said must be phased out by 2050 to prevent catastrophic warming. Poland has even allowed two coal companies to sponsor the talks.<br></p><p>"Having major coal companies as climate summit sponsors sends the worst possible signal at the worst possible time," <a href="https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/" target="_blank">Greenpeace</a>'s director in Central and Eastern Europe Robert Cyglicki told The Guardian. "It would be like Philip Morris sponsoring a health summit where a cigarette ban is supposed to be agreed. We will know this was a successful summit if coal companies regret sponsoring it."</p>
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</p><div id="939a8" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="4AU52L1576663235"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1069486894923304960" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">At the global #ClimateChange convention our host, Poland, greets us with a shrine of ACTUAL coal 🔥💨🇵🇱
This year th… https://t.co/z7SCa4BRgL</div> — James Ellsmoor 🏝 (@James Ellsmoor 🏝)<a href="https://twitter.com/jellsmoor/statuses/1069486894923304960">1543820520.0</a></blockquote></div>
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<p>Another concern is the role that the U.S. delegates will play. While President <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/donald-trump" target="_self">Donald Trump</a> has vowed to withdraw from the Paris agreement, he cannot actually do so until 2020, so the U.S. must still participate in talks. U.S. participants have not interfered with the process itself, BBC News reported. But at the last COP event, the White House was criticized for organizing a <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/protestors-cop23-bloomberg-2509352387.html" target="_self">side event promoting fossil fuels</a>, and <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/trump-coal-un-katowice-cop24-2619873172.html" target="_self">reports indicate</a> they will do so again at the Katowice talks.<br></p>
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A sperm whale that washed up in Indonesia's Wakatobi National Park had plastic bottles, bags and cups in its belly. @WWF_ID / Kartika Sumolang
Yet another whale has suffered from plastic pollution. A sperm whale that washed up dead in a national park in Indonesia had nearly 13 pounds of plastic waste in its stomach, park officials told the Associated Press.
Researchers from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the park's conservation academy uncovered more than 1,000 other pieces of plastic, including 115 plastic cups, four plastic bottles, 25 plastic bags, 2 flip-flops and a nylon sack.
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WWF-Indonesia posted
<a href="https://twitter.com/WWF_ID/status/1064667525219110912" target="_blank">disturbing photos</a> of the beached whale on social media.
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The carcass of the 31-foot marine mammal—found late Monday near Kapota Island in Wakatobi National Park—contained "hard plastic (19 pieces, 140g), plastic bottles (4 pieces, 150g), plastic bags (25 pieces, 260g), flip-flops (2 pieces, 270g), pieces of string (3.26kg) & plastic cups (115 pieces, 750g)," the conservation group tweeted.
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</p><div id="b015c" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="T3Q4RO1576662634"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1064667497733844992" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">5,9 kg sampah plastik ditemukan di dlm perut paus malang ini! Sampah plastik yaitu: plastik keras (19 pcs, 140 gr),… https://t.co/sDJbZqbz52</div> — WWF-Indonesia (@WWF-Indonesia)<a href="https://twitter.com/WWF_ID/statuses/1064667497733844992">1542671486.0</a></blockquote></div>
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It's not clear if plastic was the direct cause of the whale's death since it was in an advanced state of decay when it was found, Dwi Suprapti, a marine species conservation co-ordinator at WWF-Indonesia, explained to the Associated Press.
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"Although we have not been able to deduce the cause of death, the facts that we see are truly awful," she said.
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Wakatobi park plans to bury the whale on Tuesday and its remains will be used for study by the local marine academy,
<a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-indonesia-whale/sperm-whale-washed-up-in-indonesia-had-plastic-bottles-bags-in-stomach-idUSKCN1NP11F" target="_blank">Reuters</a> reported.
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Plastic pollution is a worldwide problem, but it's
<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/these-5-countries-account-for-60-of-plastic-pollution-in-oceans-1882107531.html" target="_self">particularly bad in Asia</a>, where there are few collection and recovery systems. China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Sri Lanka are responsible for up to 60 percent of the marine plastic entering our <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/oceans">oceans</a>, according to a <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/these-5-countries-account-for-60-of-plastic-pollution-in-oceans-1882107531.html" target="_blank">2015 study</a> from the<a href="https://oceanconservancy.org/" target="_blank"> Ocean Conservancy</a> and <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/sustainability-and-resource-productivity/how-we-help-clients/mckinsey-center-for-business-and-environment" target="_blank">McKinsey Center for Business and Environment</a>.
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Around the world, an estimated
<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/8-million-metric-tons-of-plastic-dumped-into-worlds-oceans-each-year-1882012563.html" target="_self">8 million metric tons</a> of plastic waste gets dumped in our seas every year, causing <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/plastic-oceans-facts-images-2436857254.html">countless marine animals</a> to suffer from either becoming entangled in the material or ingesting it, which leads to suffocation or starvation. In June, a pilot whale died in southern Thailand after <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/whale-death-plastic-bags-2575100966.html" target="_blank">swallowing 17 pounds of plastics</a>. <span></span>
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<span></span>Indonesia itself produces about 130,000 tons of plastic and solid waste per day, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/06/plastic-british-diver-films-sea-rubbish-bali-indonesia" target="_blank">The Guardian</a> reported in March, citing data from the <a href="http://rolefoundation.org/" target="_blank">Rivers, Oceans, Lakes and Ecology Foundation</a>. Unfortunately, only half of that trash reaches landfills. The remaining half is either illegally burned or dumped into the country's waters.
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Last year, the Indonesian government announced it will
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/the-coral-triangle/2017/mar/02/indonesia-pledges-us1-billion-a-year-to-curb-ocean-waste" target="_blank">pledge $1 billion a year</a> toward reducing marine waste by 70 percent by 2025.
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Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Indonesia's coordinating minister of maritime affairs, told the AP that the whale's plight should raise public awareness about the necessity to curb the use of plastic.
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"I'm so sad to hear this," said Pandjaitan. "It is possible that many other marine animals are also contaminated with plastic waste and this is very dangerous for our lives."
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Pandjaitan has pushed the government to take tougher action on plastic to help protect our oceans.
</p><p>
"This big ambition can be achieved if people learn to understand that plastic waste is a common enemy," he said.
</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="86f64" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="PGCOZF1576662634"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="971052909000581121" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">'Plastic, Plastic, So Much Plastic!': Diver Films Sea of Trash Off Bali https://t.co/0ekauIZKxu @PlasticPollutes @Oceana @WWF @YEARSofLIVING</div> — EcoWatch (@EcoWatch)<a href="https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/statuses/971052909000581121">1520352029.0</a></blockquote></div>
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EcoWatch Daily Newsletter
Black rhino. Gerry Zambonini / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
Great news from China! Following intense international backlash, the Chinese government said Monday that it has postponed a regulation that would have allowed the use of tiger bone and rhino horn for medicine, research and other purposes.
In October, China alarmed animal rights activists around the world when it weakened a 25-year-old ban on the trading of the animal parts. Conservationists said it would be akin to signing a "death warrant" for endangered tiger and rhino populations.
<p>
Ding Xuedong, the executive deputy secretary-general, told the state news agency
<a href="http://www.china.org.cn/china/Off_the_Wire/2018-11/12/content_71941870.htm" target="_blank">Xinhua</a> that the October regulation was "postponed after study."
</p><p>
China will continue to enforce its 1993 ban on the import, export and sale of rhinos, tigers and their byproducts, he said.
</p><p>
<span></span>"I would like to reiterate that the Chinese government has not changed its stance on <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/wildlife">wildlife</a> protection and will not ease the crackdown on illegal trafficking and trade of rhinos, tigers and their byproducts and other criminal activities," Ding added.
</p><p>
The October plan would have allowed the trade of rhino horns and tiger bones from captive animals for use in medical and scientific research, education and "cultural exchanges,"
<a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-wildlife/china-postpones-lifting-of-ban-on-trade-of-tiger-and-rhino-parts-idUSKCN1NH0XH" target="_blank">Reuters</a> reported.
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</p><div id="f0566" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ZM2OHQ1576662644"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1057875432782077953" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">New #Chinese Law a ‘Death Warrant’ for Endangered #Rhinos and #Tigers https://t.co/E3dOTl9hRP</div> — EcoWatch (@EcoWatch)<a href="https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/statuses/1057875432782077953">1541052132.0</a></blockquote></div>
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Conservation groups say that relaxing any ban on the trade of those parts would confuse consumers and authorities on which products were legal, provide cover for black market sales, stimulate demand for the products and spur more <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/poaching">poaching</a>.
</p><p>
The are currently only 3,900 tigers and 30,000 rhinos left in the wild. The animals are threatened by poaching and habitat loss.
</p><p>
<span></span>The <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/" target="_blank">World Wildlife Fund</a> (WWF) celebrated China's reversal.
</p><p>
"WWF welcomes the news that China has postponed lifting its ban on the domestic trade in rhino horn and tiger bone, signalling a positive response to international reaction," Margaret Kinnaird, WWF's wildlife practice leader, said in a
<a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/press-releases/wwf-statement-in-response-to-china-postponing-new-regulation-on-domestic-trade-in-tiger-bone-and-rhino-horn" target="_blank">press release</a>. "Allowing trade from even captive animals could have had devastating impacts on wild rhino and tiger populations. This move helps maintain the leadership role China has taken in tackling the illegal wildlife trade and reducing market demand."
</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="e9bd2" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="GCMJBE1576662644"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1061962467641884677" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">#Breaking: China will continue to strictly ban the use of #rhino horn and #tiger bone in medicine, and will spare n… https://t.co/JHvy0NmWCL</div> — CITES (@CITES)<a href="https://twitter.com/CITES/statuses/1061962467641884677">1542026557.0</a></blockquote></div>
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Mother and baby sperm whale. Wikimedia Commons
Sperm whales live in all the world's major oceans, but they tend to stay away from extremely cold waters near the poles. So you can imagine the surprise when scientists spotted a pair of these whales farther from their usual range.
World Wildlife Fund-Canada Arctic species specialist Brandon Laforest and his guide Titus Allooloo saw the whales near Pond Inlet, Nunavut in the Canadian Arctic in September, the CBC reported.
<p>
They initially thought they spotted killer whales, but later realized it was actually a species rarely seen in the area.
</p><p>
"It's only the second recorded observation of sperm whales in the region. Back in 2014 local hunters spotted them," Laforest told the CBC. He noted it was "really shocking" to see these southern whales so far north.
</p><ul class="ee-ul">
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A
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jq-yN3NRKTY" target="_blank">clip</a> of the sighting was posted in October:
</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube">
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8ca4980b04e36bb9ef3a392b2999ee7b"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Jq-yN3NRKTY?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="add caption...">Rare sperm whales sighting in the Arctic</small>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jq-yN3NRKTY" target="_blank">www.youtube.com</a>
</small>
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The head and upper body of a sperm whale contains oily fats that turn waxy in cold waters, meaning they are ill-equipped to swim in colder waters, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/05/sperm-whales-canadian-arctic" target="_blank">The Guardian</a> reported. Their fleshy dorsal fins are also ineffective at breaking through ice.
</p><p>
<span></span>But <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change/">climate</a> and oceanographic change on sperm whales can potentially affect their typical habitat and feeding range, according to the <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/sperm-whale" target="_blank">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</a>.
</p><p>
<span></span>Laforest told the CBC that the whales he saw have likely returned south, but their stopover in Pond Inlet suggests the region is becoming "more open for them to exploit in terms of accessing food."
</p><p>
Their primary prey is giant squid. Marine biologists have found that squid and other cephalopods are
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/may/23/octopuses-squid-cuttlefish-warming-oceans-climate-change" target="_blank">appearing to thrive</a> in warming oceans.
</p><p>
This is good news for sperm whales, Laforest added to the CBC. However, their presence could be bad for Arctic species such as the bowhead "which traditionally live without much competition because of their intense adaptation to live in a relatively harsh environment."
</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="14f46" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="N4PES71576662650"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1057723912740655104" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Humpbacks use songs to communicate, search for food, find mates and navigate the seas, but their voices are being d… https://t.co/8fwYsFjYPv</div> — Greenpeace USA (@Greenpeace USA)<a href="https://twitter.com/greenpeaceusa/statuses/1057723912740655104">1541016007.0</a></blockquote></div>
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Humanity 'Sleepwalking Towards the Edge of a Cliff': 60% of Earth's Wildlife Wiped Out Since 1970
30 October 2018
Animals
A hippo in Okavango Delta National Park, Botswana. Buena Vista Images / Stone / Getty Images
By Julia Conley
Scientists from around the world issued a stark warning to humanity Tuesday in a semi-annual report on the Earth's declining biodiversity, which shows that about 60 percent of mammals, birds, fish and reptiles have been wiped out by human activity since 1970.
<p>The World Wildlife Fund's <a href="file:///Users/juliaconley/Downloads/lpr2018_full_report_spreads.pdf" target="_blank">Living Planet Index</a> details how human's uncontrolled <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/overconsumption">overconsumption</a> of land, food and natural resources has eliminated a majority of the wildlife on the planet—threatening human civilization as well as the world's animals.</p><p>"We are sleepwalking towards the edge of a cliff," Mike Barrett, executive director of science and conservation at WWF, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/30/humanity-wiped-out-animals-since-1970-major-report-finds" target="_blank">told</a> the<em> Guardian.</em> "If there was a 60 percent decline in the human population, that would be equivalent to emptying North America, South America, Africa, Europe, China and Oceania. That is the scale of what we have done."</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="51a62" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="IBY9J21576662284"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1057156563914407936" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">#BREAKING: 60% global wildlife declines show nature needs life support. We're living beyond the planet's means and… https://t.co/NBugPHSb7j</div> — WWF-UK (@WWF-UK)<a href="https://twitter.com/wwf_uk/statuses/1057156563914407936">1540880740.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>Killer whales were named as one species that is in grave danger of extinction due to exposure to chemicals used by humans, and the Living Index Report highlighted freshwater species and animal populations in Central and South America as being especially affected by human activity in the past five decades.<br></p><p>"Species population declines are especially pronounced in the tropics, with South and Central America suffering the most dramatic decline, an 89 percent loss compared to 1970," reads the report. "Freshwater species numbers have also declined dramatically, with the Freshwater Index showing an 83% decline since 1970."</p><p>Destruction of wildlife habitats is the leading human-related cause of extinction, as people around the world are now using about three-quarters of all land on the planet for agriculture, industry and other purposes, according to the report.</p><p>Mass killing of animals for food is the second-largest cause of extinction, according to the report, with 300 mammal species being "<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/oct/19/worlds-mammals-being-eaten-into-extinction-report-warns" target="_blank">eaten into extinction</a>."</p><p>"It is a classic example of where the disappearance is the result of our own consumption," Barrett told the Guardian.</p><p>The report stresses a need to that shift away from the notion that wildlife must be protected simply for the sake of ensuring that future generations can see species like elephants, polar bears and other endangered animals in the wild.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODc4MjEwNy9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzOTQ0MDQ5NH0.57LPz5FCHZ-srKPm_1DudFKXKZ3k4BsuJ_TmS2ARu-4/img.jpg?width=980" id="4ea7b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a73d105084c4256f7d88e6cde72625aa" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="add caption...">Underwater Polar Bear in Hudson Bay, Canada.</small>
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="add photo credit...">Paul Souders / Stone / Getty Images</small></p><p>Rather, the survival of the planet's ecosystems is now a matter of life and death for the human population, according to the WWF.<br></p><p>"Nature contributes to human wellbeing culturally and spiritually, as well as through the critical production of food, clean water, and energy, and through regulating the Earth's climate, pollution, pollination and floods," Professor Robert Watson, who contributed to the report, told the<em> Guardian.</em> "The Living Planet report clearly demonstrates that human activities are destroying nature at an unacceptable rate, threatening the wellbeing of current and future generations."</p><p>"Nature is not a 'nice to have'—it is our life-support system," added Barrett.</p><p>Many scientists believe that studies like that of the WWF demonstrate that a sixth mass extinction is now underway—a theory that would mean the Earth could experience its first mass extinction event caused by a single species inhabiting the planet. The loss of all life on Earth could come about due to a combination of human-caused effects, including a rapidly warming planet as well as the loss of biodiversity.</p><p>"The Great Acceleration, and the rapid and immense social, economic and ecological changes it has spurred, show us that we are in a period of great upheaval," reads the study. "Some of these changes have been positive, some negative, and all of them are interconnected. What is increasingly clear is that human development and wellbeing are reliant on healthy natural systems, and we cannot continue to enjoy the former without the latter."</p><p> <em>Reposted with permission from our media associate <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/10/30/humanity-sleepwalking-towards-edge-cliff-60-earths-wildlife-wiped-out-1970" target="_blank">Common Dreams</a>.</em><em></em></p>
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This gibbon is named after a certain Star Wars hero. Lei Dong
October 24 marks International Gibbon Day, a global celebration of these adorable, singing and acrobatic primates. This day is also important because they are the most endangered of group of apes, according the World Wildlife Fund.
There are 20 different species of gibbons and they are endemic to the tropical and subtropical rainforests of south Asia. This includes the Hainan gibbon—the rarest primate in the world and found only on Hainan Island in China. Their numbers dipped as low as 8 in the 1980s. But through conservation efforts, there are now 27 individuals in the wild, said Wenbo Zhang, who works with Cloud Mountain Conservation, an NGO that focuses on gibbon conservation in China.
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<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODc2MTA5NC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1NTc1ODU0Nn0.GIdpNnMIIqY88V_EhRdnX3Mmkwppm51kclFnDXkqB0s/img.jpg?width=980" id="51fe4" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="86122afa829978e011eb844c2f72560b" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="add caption...">Hainan gibbon</small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="add photo credit...">Chao Zhao</small>
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In fact, most of these tree-dwellers are listed as endangered or critically endangered due to their rapidly disappearing habitats, as well as poaching and the pet trade.
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So what makes these creatures so special? Gibbons are known to be the smallest and fastest of all non-flying arboreal mammals. These apes are intelligent, sing unique songs (some even sing in duets) and use grooming to increase bonding between family members, Zhang told EcoWatch. Most of them are also strictly monogamous and form long-term relationships with their partners.
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Last year, a Chinese-led team and experts from the Zoological Society of London discovered an entirely new gibbon species in southwest Asia—the Skywalker hoolock gibbon. Its "Star Wars"-inspired name reflects the gibbon's high treetop home.
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Unfortunately, there are less than 150 Skywalkers left in the wild, Zhang said.
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"The Skywalker hoolock gibbon … faces the same grave and imminent risk to its survival as many other small ape species in southern China and Southeast Asia due to habitat loss and hunting," Samuel Turvey, a senior research fellow at the Zoological Society of London, said in
<a href="https://www.zsl.org/science/news/scientists-use-the-force-to-discover-skywalker-gibbon" target="_blank">press release</a> about the species. "Increased awareness of the remarkable ecosystem of the Gaoligong mountains and improved conservation is essential, to ensure we have time to get fully acquainted with this exciting new species before it's too late."
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This day is all about raising public awareness about this little-known animal in order to save it from extinction. </p><p><strong>Check out these amazing apes below:</strong></p>
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<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODc2MTQ3OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTU5NjA5MTM4NH0.nvrK-ll1iGRDopD15CRP2B6Br69qKFraY6qKrHpDrqM/img.jpg?width=980" id="ed1fb" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="10c003cec6d13a71b3243f26594bd04c" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
Chao Zhao
A female eastern black crested gibbon with offspring.
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Close-up of beluga whale swimming in water. Graham Swain / EyeEm / Getty Images
Beluga whales are normally found in icy Arctic and subarctic waters. So onlookers were undoubtedly surprised to spot one of the distinctive white whales swimming very far south in the UK's River Thames.
Ecologist and ornithologist Dave Andrews first posted footage of the unusual sighting onto Twitter on Tuesday and said the whale was feeding around the barges near the town of Gravesend in northwest Kent.
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"Can't believe I'm writing this, no joke - BELUGA in the Thames off Coalhouse Fort," he wrote.
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</p><div id="de4e2" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="R8OSX51576662287"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1044535018863890433" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Can't believe I'm writing this, no joke - BELUGA in the Thames off Coalhouse Fort @RareBirdAlertUK https://t.co/6VtrJ1PVc6</div> — Dave Andrews (@Dave Andrews)<a href="https://twitter.com/iPterodroma/statuses/1044535018863890433">1537871529.0</a></blockquote></div>
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At first, it was unclear that the animal was actually a beluga, but Richard Sabin, curator of marine mammals at the Natural History Museum confirmed the species.
</p><p style="">
"The latest set of images and videos I've seen suggest very strongly that this is a beluga whale,
<em>Delphinapterus leucas</em>," he said in a museum <a href="http://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2018/september/a-beluga-whale-could-have-swum-into-the-river-thames.html?utm_source=tw-link-post-20180925-kp&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=news" target="_blank">blog post</a>. "The white body color, absence of a prominent dorsal fin, bulbous forehead and general swimming motion all suggest this very strongly."</p>
<p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="78540" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="4UDA4N1576662287"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1044615448145215488" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">A beluga whale was spotted in the UK's River Thames, one of the furthest south sightings ever. Researchers say clim… https://t.co/otNyYEdqK4</div> — AJ+ (@AJ+)<a href="https://twitter.com/ajplus/statuses/1044615448145215488">1537890705.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p>
<p style="">Belugas can be found in Russia, Alaska, Canada, West Greenland and Svalbard, but they have swum far from their usual habitats before. They've been recorded as vagrant at Japan, New Jersey, Washington state, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Ireland, Scotland, France, the Netherlands and Denmark, according to the <a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/6335/0" target="_blank">International Union for the Conservation of Nature</a> (IUCN).</p><p style="">
But this is the first time a beluga has been spotted in the River Thames,
<a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/09/25/beluga-whale-spotted-river-thames-rspca-investigating-sightings/" target="_blank">The Telegraph</a> reported.
</p><p style="">
Ornithological consultant Lee Evans told the publication that the whale is "in grave danger."
</p><p>
"It is stuck next to a buoy and hasn't moved for an hour-and-a-half except coming up to breathe. It was a lot more active earlier. It's either stuck or there's something wrong," Evans said.
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Evans explained that large winds from the north could have pushed the whale south towards the Thames.
</p><p style="">
"The whales only ever come to these narrow estuaries when there's something very wrong. The Thames is far too warm for this beluga and I doubt it can feed," he said.
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<span></span>The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society told <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-kent-45642590" target="_blank">BBC News</a> that animal was "obviously very lost and quite possibly in trouble" and is urging the public to give space to the whale.
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The conservation group also
<a href="https://uk.whales.org/news/2018/09/beluga-whale-sighting-in-thames-estuary" target="_blank">noted in a Tuesday blog post</a> there have been about 20 previous sightings of beluga whales in the UK, but these were off the coasts of Northumberland, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
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Belugas are listed as "<a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/6335/0" target="_blank">near threatened</a>" by the IUCN due to human activities such as in oil and gas operations, commercial shipping and hunting. Rising temperatures caused by <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change/">climate change</a> has also melted Arctic ice and opened its waters, increasing the scale and distribution of such human activities in beluga habitats, according to the IUCN.
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<span></span>The <a href="http://www.wwf.ca/conservation/arctic/wildlife/beluga_whales/" target="_blank">World Wildlife Fund</a> also says that climate change has shrunk the extent and thickness of ice cover, which belugas use as a place to feed, to take refuge and to hide from their predators such as orcas.
</p><p style="">
A 2016
<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gcb.13564/abstract" target="_blank">study</a> led by the University of Washington found that the annual migration of some beluga whales in Alaska was altered by sea ice changes in the Arctic.
</p>
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A tiger in Dhikala, Nepal. Ranjith Kumar 2016 / CC BY-SA 4.0
Thanks to dedicated conservation efforts, Nepal now has an estimated 235 wild tigers in the country, a nearly twofold increase from its baseline of 121 individuals in 2009, the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) announced Sunday on the occasion of Nepal's National Conservation Day.
The South Asian nation is now on track to become the first country to double its tiger population as part of WWF's "TX2" goal to double the world's wild tiger population by 2022—the next year of the tiger on the Chinese zodiac.
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The news was celebrated by environmentalists including actor <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/leonardo-dicaprio">Leonardo DiCaprio</a>, who is a WWF-US board member. His <a href="https://www.leonardodicaprio.org/" target="_blank">foundation</a> has funded tiger conservation in Nepal's Bardia National Park and elsewhere since 2010.
</p><p>
"This significant increase in Nepal's tiger population is proof that when we work together, we can save the planet's wildlife—even species facing extinction," DiCaprio stated in a press release received by EcoWatch. "Nepal has been a leader in efforts to double tigers within its own borders and serves as a model for conservation for all of Asia and the world. I am proud of my foundation's partnership with WWF to support Nepal and local communities in doubling the population of wild tigers."
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</p><div id="a6e0c" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="7PZKVJ1576683797"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1043945736356925440" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">I am proud of @dicapriofdn’s partnership with @World_Wildlife to support Nepal and local communities in doubling th… https://t.co/2Qs8iRqkoV</div> — Leonardo DiCaprio (@Leonardo DiCaprio)<a href="https://twitter.com/LeoDiCaprio/statuses/1043945736356925440">1537731033.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>
Due to years of illegal poaching and habitat loss, <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/tiger" target="_blank">there are roughly</a> 3,890 of the iconic big cats roaming the planet today, a dramatic decline from the 100,000 about a century ago, according to WWF. As top predators, they are crucial to the ecosystems they inhabit.
</p><p>
<span></span>"Every tiger counts, for Nepal and for the world," WWF-Nepal's Ghana S. Gurung stated in a press release received by EcoWatch. "While Nepal is but a few tigers away from our goal to double tiger numbers by 2022, it also underscores the continued need to ensure protection, and improved and contiguous habitats for the long-term survival of the species."
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Under the TX2 goal set at the 2010 St. Petersburg summit, all 13 tiger range countries—Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand and Vietnam—pledged to increase the number of wild tigers in the world to more than 6,000 by 2022.
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"With four more years to go, the TX2 goal of doubling tiger numbers globally can only be achieved if all the tiger range countries step up and commit to a similar level of [Nepal's] excellence," WWF said.
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To estimate its tiger population, Nepal conducted surveys between November 2017 and April 2018 by using camera traps and other techniques. The last survey in 2013 counted 198 tigers.
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<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODY1MjQ5MS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MjYxMjQ5N30.k-HMAymde-zilG1dZWL4saf-M4Y_TDYalfT2ui8BWPg/img.jpg?width=980" id="e2815" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c417ff0581e132acc0ef20f98c260120" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="add caption...">Camera traps were used to survey Nepal's wild tiger numbers.</small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="add photo credit...">DNPWC/WWF Nepal </small></p><p>
Nepal's success story can be attributed to its political commitment towards tiger conservation. For one, Nepal was the first country to achieve global standards in managing tiger conservation areas, an accreditation scheme governed by the Conservation Assured Tiger Standards, according to WWF.
</p><p>
"Protecting tigers is a top priority of the government, and we are thankful for the able support of our partners, enforcement agencies, local communities and the international community for a common purpose," Bishwa Nath Oli, secretary of Nepal's Ministry of Forests and Environment, stated in the press release.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="4809c" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="TRPKTS1576683797"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="958895199702474758" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">New Sightings of 'Putin's Tigers' Are Good News for Conservation in Russia https://t.co/kRv066FbyG @environmentca @ConservationOrg</div> — EcoWatch (@EcoWatch)<a href="https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/statuses/958895199702474758">1517453405.0</a></blockquote></div>
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Antonio Busiello / WWF-US
Thanks to a series of conservation measures enacted by Belize's government, the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System—one the world's most incredible, diverse ecosystems—has been removed from the UNESCO List of World Heritage in Danger sites.
<p>The historic decision came this week during a World Heritage Committee meeting in Bahrain, just five months after the Belizean government imposed a moratorium on oil exploration and drilling in all of Belize's offshore waters—a landmark piece of legislation that protected critical ecosystems and established the country as a new world leader in ocean conservation.</p><p>"At time when we are seeing numerous threats to World Heritage sites, Belize's government has taken real action to protect one of the world's most special places," said Marco Lambertini, director general of <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/" target="_blank">WWF International</a>. "We have seen an incredible turnaround from when the reef was being threatened by seismic testing for oil just eighteen months ago."</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODEyNTY3NC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzODU0MTExMn0.b3kzLaVKPuxYHY6ug35Ebq0dk7J1GoCqKGdNO7tE6lM/img.jpg?width=980" id="6a5a3" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6451e2fe311cd99e587e5ea1eef22877" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
</p><p>Comprised of seven protected areas, Belize's Barrier Reef System is the second-largest reef system in the world and is home to nearly 1,400 species, from endangered hawksbill turtles to West Indian manatees, sting rays, coral and six threatened species of sharks.<br></p><p>Nearly 200,000 people—more than half Belize's population—rely on the reef to live. Reef-based tourism and recreational activities provide vital sources of income and account for an estimated $200 million of Belize's GDP, while commercial fishing contributes about $15 million. The reef also provides important natural protection against damages from extreme storms along the coast.</p><p>The Belize Barrier Reef System was first inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996 in recognition of the site's incredible biodiversity and cultural significance. But in the last decade, exploration for oil, development along the coast, and a lack of strong regulations have posed increasing threats to the fragile ecosystem. The reef site was added to UNESCO's List of World Heritage in Danger in 2009 due to the threat of irreversible damage from harmful coastal construction and oil exploration.</p><p>Last year, more than 450,000 people from around the world joined WWF and other organizations—including Oceana, the Belize Tourism Association, Belize Audubon Society and Belize Institute for Environmental Law and Policy—to campaign against proposed oil exploration near the World Heritage site. They signed petitions, wrote letters, and used social media to urge the country's government to secure the long-term protection of the barrier reef.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODEyNTY3Ni9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MDI2NDQ4N30.ft2beaEyzwRe0RgDOvWmBynIPTa3yyb6xPAD_iHrHeg/img.jpg?width=980" id="4dac4" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c122eb0460b9020d565db34f730e02f2" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="add photo credit...">Antonio Busiello / WWF-US</small></p><p>Their hard work payed off.<br></p><p>In December 2017, Belize agreed to put an end to oil exploration in its waters and began to secure the region against immediate threats—a critical step towards protecting the reef, its species and the people who rely on it. Belize is now just one of three countries in the world with such legislation.</p><p>"Belizeans stood up to protect their reef, with hundreds of thousands more globally joining the campaign to save our shared heritage. In taking swift collaborative action, Belize has shown that it is possible to reverse nature loss and create a sustainable future," added Lambertini.</p><p>Belize also recently adopted critical regulations to protect the country's mangroves and announced that it would begin to phase out single-use plastics like plastic bags, utensils, and take-out containers that threaten species and delicate ecosystems.</p><p>But there's still more work to be done to ensure that Belize's barrier reef and the rest of the World Heritage sites—and the 11 million people they support worldwide—continue to be protected for future generations.</p>
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Each year, almost 1.2 billion people travel abroad, making travel and tourism one of the largest industries in the world. Representing a whopping 10 percent of the global economy, it supplies millions of jobs and benefits countless communities.
<p>Yet while travel has many positive impacts, it can also take a heavy toll on the environment, from putting increased strain on fragile ecosystems and culturally significant sites to contributing to rising fossil fuel emissions. But that doesn't mean you have to drop your suitcase and cancel your reservations, says WWF's travel experts. These simple actions can help you significantly reduce the footprint of your next trip and leave a positive impact on local communities.</p><p><strong>1. Do Your Homework</strong></p><p>Before you book, research destinations that prioritize sustainability and that are investing in preserving their natural and cultural heritage. Some countries, such as Namibia and Bhutan, have environmental protection written into their constitution. Others demonstrate an ongoing commitment to conservation by creating and taking care of their national parks, marine reserves, and wildlife refuges. According to Jim Sano, WWF's Vice President of Travel and Conservation, "Selecting a destination that achieves a balance of protecting natural and cultural resources, providing for sustainable livelihoods, and creating a high-quality traveler experience is challenging. <a href="http://greendestinations.org/" target="_blank">Green Destinations</a> has started to compile a list of sustainable destinations against the Global Sustainable Tourism Council's Destination Criteria—a recognized set of criteria to assess a destination's management policies and practices. Two-hundred destinations have been selected to date."</p><p><strong>2. Getting There</strong></p><p>One of the best ways to travel more sustainably is to be thoughtful about your modes of travel. Are there environmentally-friendly ways to reach your destination? If you must fly, you can reduce your carbon footprint by selecting direct flights and by choosing a more energy-efficient aircraft, both of which lead to less jet fuel being burned. Travelers can also offset their travel emissions by purchasing reputable, accredited carbon credits from an offset platform like MyClimate.</p><p><strong>3. Find Eco-Friendly Lodging</strong></p><p>Seek out eco-conscious hotels and accommodations that support sustainable development and have minimal impact on the surrounding environment. Specifically, look for places to stay that use renewable energy, have effective waste management systems, recycle, or were built using renewable materials. With the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, you can easily find certified sustainable lodging to fit your requirements.</p><p><strong>4. Choose Tours Wisely</strong></p><p>When scheduling tours or sight-seeing trips, book through companies that adhere to environmentally-friendly policies, including protecting <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/wildlife">wildlife</a>, supporting indigenous peoples, and employing local guides who are familiar with regional laws and customs. Thankfully, there's an abundance of reputable companies that can help globetrotters find adventures that aren't damaging to nature or communities.</p><p><strong>5. Support Local Economies</strong></p><p>Try to visit regions where local people are empowered to manage their land and natural resources—such as wildlife, parks and marine protected areas—meaning that tourism dollars directly benefit the local economy and can influence positive change.</p><p><strong>6. Shop Carefully</strong></p><p>Tempted by an "antique" carved ivory tusk? Or a black coral bracelet? Think twice. Just because an item is for sale doesn't mean it's legal to purchase. Some products, such as snake wine, tortoiseshell accessories, shells and coral jewelry, ivory, or furs are made from protected plants or endangered species and can be illegal to export or import. They can also be the products of poaching or mislabeled to entice tourists. Before you spend, be sure to ask questions. What is the item made of? Where did it come from? By making informed choices—or just saying no—you could dodge a serious fine at customs or help reduce the market demand for trafficked, at-risk species. For a list of items to avoid, check out WWF's <a href="https://c402277.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/publications/315/files/original/Buyer-Beware.pdf?1345686864" target="_blank">Buyer Beware Guide.</a></p><p><strong>7. Be Smart About Plastics</strong></p><p>Each year, more than 8 million tons of plastics wind up in our ocean, where they disrupt delicate ecosystems and endanger marine wildlife. Much of this harmful waste comes from single-use plastics like throw-away water bottles, take-out packaging, and plastic shopping bags not recovered by waste management. Minimize the amount of plastic waste you produce when you travel by carrying a re-usable water bottle, opting for locally filtered water where possible, and bringing your own tote bags for shopping.</p><p><strong>8. Look, Don't Touch</strong></p><p>No matter where you go, you should never touch, feed, taunt, or play with the wild animals you encounter, which could spell trouble for both you and the animal. Also keep away from tourist attractions where you're allowed to have hands-on experiences with animals or where wild animals are exploited. These are often harmful to the animals and fuel the illicit trade in exotic pets or endangered animal parts.</p><p><strong>9. Pick Your Products</strong></p><p>Some common <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/hawaii-coral-reefs-sunscreen-ban-2565189657.html">sunscreens</a> and soaps contain harmful chemicals that can be absorbed by the ocean's fragile <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/coral-reefs">coral reefs</a> systems and contribute to coral bleaching. Before you dive in, make sure to use reef-friendly products, such as biodegradable or mineral-based sunscreens, shampoo and soaps. Or think about switching to protective clothing, like rash guards and wet suits, which dermatologists say are just as effective as sunscreen. </p><p><strong>10. Enjoy Sustainable Activities</strong></p><p>As you explore new places, opt for recreational activities that don't pollute or use energy, such as kayaking, biking or hiking. Not only will you create zero carbon emissions, you'll likely discover unique sights and experiences away from the beaten path.</p>
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WWF / BiancoTangerine
The Mediterranean Sea is turning into a dangerous plastic trap, with record levels of pollution from microplastics threatening marine species and human health, according to a new World Wildlife Fund (WWF) report released Friday.
<p>Coinciding with World Oceans Day, the WWF report "Out of the Plastic Trap: Saving the Mediterranean From Plastic Pollution" raises the alarm on the dramatic effects that excessive plastic use, poor waste management and mass tourism are having on one of the most visited regions in the world.</p><p>Bringing together the most recent data and scientific evidence on plastic use in Europe and the many ways in which it impacts marine life, the report presents a detailed roadmap of the urgent actions institutions, businesses and citizens need to take to stop plastic waste from reaching the sea.</p><p>"The impacts of plastic pollution in the Mediterranean are also being felt across the world and are causing serious harm both to nature and human health. Worsening plastic pollution will threaten the Mediterranean's global reputation for tourism and seafood, undermining the local communities who depend on these sectors for their livelihoods. The plastics problem is also a symptom of the overall decline in the health of the Mediterranean and must serve as a rallying call for real action," said John Tanzer, leader of the WWF International oceans program.</p><p>Today, plastic represents 95 percent of the waste floating in the Mediterranean and lying on its beaches. Most of this plastic is released into the sea from Turkey and Spain, followed by Italy, Egypt and France, with tourists visiting the region increasing marine litter by 40 percent each summer.</p><p>Large plastic pieces injure, suffocate and often kill marine animals, including protected and endangered species, such as sea turtles and monk seals. But it is microplastics—smaller and more insidious fragments—that have reached record levels of concentration of 1.25 million fragments per km<sup>2 </sup>in the Mediterranean Sea, almost four times higher than in the "plastic island" found in the North Pacific Ocean. By entering the food chain, these fragments threaten an increasing number of animal species as well as people.</p><p>"In Europe, we produce an enormous amount of plastic waste, the majority of which is sent to landfills, resulting in millions of tonnes of plastic entering the Mediterranean Sea each year. This contaminating flow, combined with the Mediterranean being semi-enclosed, has seen harmful microplastics reach record concentration levels, threatening both marine species and human health," said Giuseppe Di Carlo, director of WWF's Mediterranean marine initiative.</p><p>"We cannot let the Mediterranean drown in plastic. We need to act urgently and across the whole supply chain to save our ocean from the pervasive presence of plastics."</p><p>According to the report, delays and gaps in plastic waste management in most Mediterranean countries are among the root causes of plastic pollution. Out of the 27 million tonnes of plastic waste produced each year in Europe (Europe here refers to EU-28, Norway and Switzerland), only a third is recycled; half of all plastic waste in Italy, France and Spain ends up in landfills. Recycled plastics currently account for only 6 percent of plastics demand in Europe.</p><p>WWF is urging governments, businesses and individuals to adopt a number of actions to reduce plastic pollution in urban, coastal and marine environments in the Mediterranean and globally. These include:</p><ul class="ee-ul"><li>The adoption of a legally-binding international agreement to eliminate plastic discharge into the oceans, supported by strong national targets to achieve 100 percent plastic waste recycled and reusable by 2030 and national bans for single-use plastic items such as bags.</li><li>A call to businesses to invest in innovation and design toward more effective and sustainable plastic use.</li></ul>"Plastic pollution is too pervasive to be solved by one continent, one government or one industrial sector alone, and it affects us all. It is only by acting together that we can free our oceans, rivers, cities and lives from unnecessary plastic," concluded Di Carlo.<p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="e8f38" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="VCIJ2N1576664221"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1002016829034856448" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">40-Ton Sperm Whales Killed by Plastic Bags in Mediterranean #plasticpollutes https://t.co/KfdCTPTsrg</div> — Plastic Pollutes (@Plastic Pollutes)<a href="https://twitter.com/PlasticPollutes/statuses/1002016829034856448">1527734403.0</a></blockquote></div>
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