Who's hosting 2021's World Environment Day?
& you loved the singing shark video so how about a farting seal?
Hey there Pod!
I hope you’re all well and the sunshine is creeping out wherever you are. Lots of ocean news to fill you in on this week so let’s dive right in. Before we get going, make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss an edition:
This week’s hot take
Pakistan will be the host of World Environment Day 2021 in partnership with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). The theme will be ‘ecosystem restoration’ with a focus on resetting our relation with nature (Mirage News). In the announcement, Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP, said:
“2020 was a year of reckoning, facing multiple crises, including a global pandemic and the continued crises of climate, nature and pollution. In 2021, we must take deliberate steps to move from crisis to healing: and in so doing, we must recognize that the restoration of nature is imperative to the survival of our planet and the human race.”
“Pakistan has shown real leadership in efforts to restore the country’s forests; we are grateful for their commitment to host World Environment Day 2021 and lead the charge for all nations to restore our damaged ecosystems through the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.”
Boris Johnson told world leaders at the United Nations Security Council that climate change is a threat to national security (BBC). But are his words enough? Greenpeace UK's senior climate campaigner, Ariana Densham, commented:
“The Prime Minister is right to call for global action to avoid the catastrophic impacts of the climate crisis and the disruption to peace and security that it will bring. But such demands are almost laughable when you’re planning new coal mines at home and stripping funds for carbon-cutting energy efficiency measures. It’s weapons-grade hypocrisy. Until the government starts taking the Prime Minister’s advice, his climate leadership will lack any credibility.”
What would you like to know from the experts next week? Ask a question in the comments.
🌊 Ocean 🌊
Struggle to visualise the threats on life beneath the sea? This interactive graphic on how humans are harming the ocean is a must-see (Guardian)
Chill out: How can quenching coral reefs with cold water save the Great Barrier Reef? (Smithsonian)
Boulder barrier: Greenpeace activists dropped boulders in the Offshore Brighton marine protected area to prevent harmful bottom trawling (Chichester Observer)
Wheee! Remember those cold-stunned turtles in Texas? They’ve now been returned to the sea… on slides! (Sky News) All the feels:
Project Jonah: 150 volunteers in New Zealand came together to rescue 40+ stranded long-finned pilot whales (Stuff NZ). While 15+ of the pod died, volunteers were able to refloat 28 survivors (BBC)
Mass stranding: Sadly, in another mass stranding in Indonesia only one of 52 pilot whales survived (Mongabay)
Marvellous mangroves: More diverse mangrove forests can store more carbon (British Ecological Society)
Ticking timebombs: A new paper presents a strategy to mitigate the impact of oil spills from wrecks in the Pacific (Science Direct). I enjoyed writing about this issue for Daily Beast in 2019
Have we missed the boat? Is it already too late when it comes to climate change? David Attenborough thinks so (Sky News)
Eagle ray patterns: Researchers discover more about the travel habits of these enigmatic rays (Phys.org)
New Norwegian regulations: have been announced to prevent marine mammal entanglements (WDC)
Peto’s paradox: Why do cetaceans have lower rates of cancer than other mammals? (New Scientist)
More plastic problems: as plastic chemicals have been found to cause deformities in sea urchin larvae (Mongabay)
Shark saviours: Sharks are key to recovery from extreme climate events, according to a new study (FIU)
The colour of survival: Coral reefs are well known for their bright and varied colours but are these colours the secret to their survival? (OIST)
Lab breakthrough: Keeping coral cells in a lab is a challenge but researchers have now found a more successful way to grow cell cultures (Phys.org)
Elephant in the ocean: Why is no-one talking about shipping pollution? (Phys.org)
Poor circulation: Could the Atlantic Ocean circulation system be on the brink of collapse? (VOA) Scientists say it’s at its weakest in a millenium (Guardian)
The Deep Dive
The Green Fix: For those who want to do more to fight the climate crisis but don’t know where to begin, look no further than the Green Fix. This fab newsletter explores a new sustainability concept every two weeks.
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See you next week!
Melissa
Baleen is provided completely free each week to help you keep on top of the latest marine conservation news - if you find it useful, say thanks by buying me a coffee
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