Environmental Minister Carsten Schneider Urges Strengthened Marine Protection Ahead of UN Ocean Conference
In a pressing call to action, German Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider emphasized the need for enhanced marine protection, just days before the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France. Schneider emphasized the crucial role of the world’s oceans, stating, “The oceans are the blue lung of the planet. They produce oxygen, provide us with food and are the largest interconnected ecosystem in the world.”
However, Schneider lamented that human impact on the oceans, particularly the proliferation of plastic waste, is a pressing concern. “It’s good that the ocean is finally getting the attention it deserves at this conference” he said, “International cooperation is essential. We’ve made good progress in recent years and now we want to build on that.”
Germany, Schneider emphasized, is committed to playing a leading role in global marine conservation and the upcoming conference presents a significant opportunity for the country to make a meaningful contribution. The conference, which is expected to draw over 40 state and government leaders, is expected to yield a binding, action-oriented declaration, accompanied by a list of voluntary commitments from participating nations, collectively known as the “Nizza Marine Action Plan.”
Germany’s federal government has pledged to implement a range of measures, including ongoing and long-term initiatives, such as the preservation and restoration of salt meadows, seagrass meadows and algal forests in the North and Baltic Seas.