Hello,
The tide is turning on conversations about ocean conservation and preservation.
Environmental leaders from around the world have gathered in Nice this week to discuss accelerated action to conserve and sustainably use the ocean at the UN Ocean Conference.
“I urge all countries to come forward with bold pledges,” UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres told the conference. “We live in an age of turmoil, but the resolve I see here gives me hope. Hope that we can turn the tide.”
Dr Amna Al Dahak, the UAE's Minister of Climate Change and Environment, is at the conference. Her message on World Oceans Day, marked on June 8, was a warning that the health of the world's seas is at serious risk. “Covering more than 70 per cent of the Earth's surface, our oceans are undeniably essential to human lives and livelihoods,” said Dr Al Dahak.
Taking a look at the impact humanity has had, The National's William Mullally spoke to the team behind David Attenborough's latest documentary, Oceans. Director Toby Nowlan said that Attenborough believes his new film “is the most important story he's ever told”.
“David was completely surprised, as I was, about the capacity for the ocean to recover,” Nowlan shared. “There’s an overriding feeling of hope in this story, and it isn’t false hope. This is a real, tangible piece of hope that we can shout about from the rooftops.”
The National's Fadah Jassem also took a closer look at how some microplastics pollute water more than others.
Clean start: UAE hotel soaps recycled in drive to cut waste and boost hygiene
Have you ever thought about what happens to the little bars of soap in your hotel room after checking out?
Each year, hotels across the UAE throw away about 16 million of them – many after just one use.
Now, a growing number of hotels are signing up to a recycling programme that is tackling that waste, transforming used soap into new bars for communities in need.
Read the full story here.
Most corals in the Arabian Gulf could be lost this century to climate change
Most corals in the Arabian Gulf could be wiped out this century because of the continued warming of the seas, a new global study has indicated.
According to the research, coral cover in the Gulf between 2090 and 2099 is expected to be between 75 and 100 per cent less than it was between 2010 and 2019.
While the forecasts vary according to future greenhouse gas emission levels, the study calculates that under a “middle-of-the-road” scenario, coral cover globally will decline by about 58 per cent by the end of the century.
Read Daniel Bardsley's story here.
The big fact
No longer plenty of fish in the sea: The Review of the State of World Marine Fishery Resources 2025, which draws on data from 2,570 marine fish stocks, paints a damning picture: over a third of stocks are being over-exploited.
Jargon buster
Dryland Farming: As described by the UICCA Climate Glossary, this term refers to a technique that uses soil moisture conservation and seed selection to optimise production in dry climates.
A full guide to understanding climate jargon is here.
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