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The Ocean Conservancy News

21 Apr 2021

US to Join Global Effort to Decarbonize Shipping Industry

Š scandamerican / Adobe Stock

The United States will join an international effort to achieve zero emissions by 2050 in the global shipping industry, climate envoy John Kerry announced ahead of a summit of world leaders President Joe Biden will host this week."We're going to look to the ocean to continue to help reduce pollution," he told a conference hosted by the Ocean Conservancy on Tuesday.The United States will join Saudi Arabia as the only two countries to formally pledge to work toward the International…

28 Oct 2019

Nike Takes Arctic Shipping Pledge

Nike and Ocean Conservancy are encouraging businesses to avoid shipping routes via the Arctic Ocean, with the launch of an ‘Arctic Shipping Corporate Pledge.'As climate change causes Arctic sea ice to diminish, cargo traffic through previously unnavigable ocean routes becomes increasingly feasible. Though these routes can offer decreased transit times, the possibility of increased vessel traffic across the Arctic poses great risk and potentially devastating environmental impacts for one of the world’s most fragile regions.“At Nike, we exist to serve athletes. That means taking climate action through Move to Zero, Nike’s journey towards a zero carbon, zero waste future,” says Hilary Krane, EVP, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel, Nike, Inc.

11 Mar 2019

IMO Addresses Marine Litter Issue

Understanding the impact of plastic litter found at sea and how to get rid of it was at the heart of discussions in Nairobi Kenya, (11-15 March) at a side-event called Sea-Based Sources of Marine Litter, in the margin of the UN Environment Assembly.Sea-based sources of marine litter, in particular from the fishing and shipping industries are a significant component of marine litter with severe impacts on the marine environment, food security, animal welfare and human health, safety and livelihoods.International Maritime Organization (IMO) addressed the audience, showing how it plans to further tackle the issue through its action plan…

15 Apr 2018

CSC Welcomes Commitment to Decarbonise Shipping

The commitment by governments to require international shipping to decarbonise and at least halve its greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 is a welcome and potentially game changing development, the Clean Shipping Coalition (CSC) has said. But the lack of any clear plan of action to deliver the emissions reductions, including urgently needed short-term measures, is a major concern, according to the group of NGOs with observer status at the UN’s International Maritime Organisation (IMO). After two weeks of difficult talks, countries attending the IMO meeting in London agreed to require the shipping sector to reduce its emissions by “at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008”. This falls short of the 70-100% cut by 2050 that is needed to align shipping with the goals of the Paris agreement.

09 Jul 2017

Ocean Conservancy Calls for Clean Arctic

“Ocean Conservancy welcomes steps taken by the International Maritime Organization to mitigate risks to the Arctic from the use and carriage of the world’s dirtiest fossil fuel. “Support for Measures to Reduce Risks of Use and Carriage of Heavy Fuel Oil as Fuel by Ships in Arctic Waters marks an important milestone in the bid to phase out the use of heavy fuel oil in the Arctic. “With climate change impacts resulting in record-breaking loss of sea ice—winter ice in the Arctic hit a record setting low in 2017 since records began 38 years ago—there will be a dramatic increase in vessel traffic through shorter Arctic sea routes to transport cargo between Southeast Asia and Europe. At present, around 75% of marine fuel currently carried in the Arctic is heavy fuel oil.

21 Dec 2016

Obama Bans New Drilling off Alaska, Part of Atlantic Shore

(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday banned new oil and gas drilling in federal waters in the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, in a push to leave his stamp on the environment before Republican Donald Trump takes office next month. Obama used a 1950s-era law called the Outer Continental Shelf Act that allows presidents to limit areas from mineral leasing and drilling. Environmental groups said that meant Trump's incoming administration would have to go court if it sought to reverse the move.

27 Dec 2015

Four Arctic Animals to Appreciate this Winter

Winter is officially here! Today, December 22, 2015, is the winter solstice and marks the start of the winter season. Much of the Arctic will not see any sunlight for the beginning of the winter season, especially today. The winter solstice is when the sunlight is the furthest away from the Arctic region. This is the time of year to truly appreciate animals that call the Arctic home. Join us in celebrating a few of these amazing Arctic species. Polar bears are well suited for the harsh climate of the Arctic. These Arctic bears are covered in protective, dense fur all over. Did you know that they even have fur on the bottom of their paws? Polar bears’ individual hair shafts have hollow cores helping them remain warm and buoyant.

15 Jul 2015

Green Groups Ask U.S. to Stall Shell's Final Arctic Permits

Ten environmental groups say a missing icebreaker should be a deal-breaker for Arctic offshore drilling by Royal Dutch Shell PLC off Alaska's northwest coast and urged the U.S. government not to grant final permits to Shell, reports Reuters and AP. The groups in a letter that under Shell's exploration plans, the U.S. Interior Department cannot allow it to begin exploring for oil in the Chukchi Sea off northern Alaska while the icebreaker, the Fennica, is unavailable. The icebreaker is a key part of Shell's exploration plan and spill response plan, said attorney Mike LeVine of Oceana. "The Fennica plays an important role in protecting the entirety of Shell's fleet from ice," he said.

16 Mar 2015

Ocean Conservancy and NAMEPA Partner to Fight Marine Debris

NAMEPA (North American Marine Environment Protection Association) and the Ocean Conservancy signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) this month, the two group announced in a press release. The agreement aims to foster a collaborative effort that encourages marine pollution prevention, advocates for sensible and sustainable marine environmental practices, and heightens public awareness of impacts and mitigation techniques of marine pollution. Marine debris is one of the most universal problems we face when it comes to having clean and healthy oceans. A primary goal of the MOU is to establish Marina Cleanup Day this June, and encourage recreational boaters and marina staff across the country to help remove trash before it reaches our oceans.

10 Sep 2014

Date for Diary: BlueTech & Blue Economy Summit & Expo

The Maritime Alliance promotes the 6th Annual event Novemeber 12-13, 2014 at the McMillin Companies Event Center in San Diego, CA  as a unique opportunity to understand trends, network with leaders from the public and private sector, see innovative technologies by the exhibitors, and identify possible partners. Recent studies are helping us understand the size and dynamic nature of the Blue Economy and particularly the BlueTech sector that is enabling us to explore, measure and develop ocean industries like never before. And financial and strategic investors are recognizing the opportunity evidenced by an increasing number of M&A and financing transactions - four sizeable transactions announced in the San Diego BlueTech community in the last 120 days alone. Leaders from the U.S.

21 May 2014

Maritime Administrator Paul “Chip” Jaenichen to Close NMDay 2014

Acting Maritime Administrator, Paul “Chip” Jaenichen will close the “Safety at Sea” Seminar being hosted by North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) at the National Press Club from 2:30-6:00pm. NAMEPA’s seminar will join industry and governmental leaders as they discuss issues of the day surrounding Safety at Sea. The seminar is designed to highlight both best practices and opportunities for improvement. Immediately following the “Safety at Sea” seminar is the AMVER Awards Dinner where over 150 companies will be recognized for their participation in the United States Coast Guard’s (USCG) Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue (AMVER) system.

04 Feb 2014

MARAD's Jaenichen to Open NAMEPA 'Winds of Change' Conference

Paul “Chip” Jaenichen: Photo credit NAMEPA

Acting Maritime Administrator, Paul “Chip” Jaenichen will open the “Winds of Change in Shipping” conference being hosted by NAMEPA (North American Marine Environment Protection Association) in Houston along with the WGMA (West Gulf Maritime Association) on February 19, 2014. The next day, February 20th, NAMEPA is partnering with NOIA (National Ocean Industries Association) to present the “Winds of Change in Offshore Oil and Gas”. Adding even more luster to this period is the inaugural Lloyd’s List North American Awards Dinner on February 19th, where winners of 17 categories will be presented.

19 Jul 2013

Date for Diary: N. American World Maritime Day Observance Conference

Clay Maitland, Chairman NYMAR: Photo credit NAMEPA

'Sustainable Maritime Development'  will be the thrust of the 2013 World Maritime Day Conference in New York in October. Clay Maitland, Founding Chairman of the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA), has announced the program for the 2013 North American World Maritime Day Observance being presented by NAMEPA and the United States Coast Guard. The conference is designed to bring forward updates on environmental stewardship, promoting a safety culture, new technologies and innovation, maritime education and training.

26 Mar 2004

Ballast Water Management Hearing Held

On March 25, the Subcommittees on Coast Guard & Maritime Transportation and on Water Resources & Environment of the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure conducted a joint hearing on Ballast Water Management. The purpose of the hearing was to examine the international ballast water standards recently agreed to by the IMO and to review reauthorization of the National Invasive Species Act (NISA). RADM Thomas Gilmour, USCG, Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety, Security, and Environmental Protection, testified that the new international convention sets reasonable standards, while allowing individual port states to establish more stringent requirements. Joseph J. Cox, Shipping Industry Ballast Water Coalition, testified in support of international regime adopted at IMO.

04 Jun 2002

Ocean Conservancy Releases Report

The Ocean Conservancy is releasing Cruise Control: How Cruise Ships Affect the Marine Environment. Cruise ships can carry up to 5,000 passengers and produce waste equivalent to that of small cities, yet they are not governed by the same anti-pollution laws as municipalities of comparable size on land. The Cruise Control report recommends a series of necessary governmental actions, including: Regulating all cruise ship discharges; Amending the Clean Water Act to to prevent discharges of raw sewage and toxic chemicals; Requiring the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop effluent limits, stronger air emission limits and mandatory ballast water treatment programs…