Extracts from the opening statements of the High level conference on Oceans - the future of the blue planet in the European Parliament in Brussels. Illustrative shots

Brussels

conference

MEISSNER, Gesine (ALDE, DE)

VELLA, Karmenu (MT, EC)

MOEDAS, Carlos (PT, EC)

protection of ocean (T)

Oceans - the future of the blue planet: extracts from the opening statements of the High level conference and illustrative shots

SOUNDBITE (English), Gesine MEISSNER (ALDE, DE), Why are oceans and maritime policies so important for us? Yes we live on a blue planet, 70% of the surface is water. Oceans are crucial for our climate, they can bind Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and produce oxygen. Every second breath we take, comes from the Ocean. 

SOUNDBITE (English), Karmenu VELLA, Member of the EC in charge of Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Over the years, I saw the increasing pressure that is constantly placed on local ecosystems and resources. I listened to fishermen friends of mine who complained that there were fewer fish to catch. I watched as decades of climate change, over exploitation, over-fishing and pollution started to take their toll. 

SOUNDBITE (Romanian), Adriana PETCU, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Waters and Forests of Romania , Reducing plastic is essential in order to pass on to a circular economy. So collection schemes and certification schemes for the operators who are in charge of collecting and sorting is hugely important for combating plastic pollution.

SOUNDBITE (English), Carlos MOEDAS, Member of the EC in charge of Research, Science and Innovation, One of, really one of the persons that has inspired me is a very young person. He is a young man called Boyan Slat. And Boyan Slat is a Dutchman. When he was 16 years old, imagine that at 16 years old he went for a trip to the sea shores in the Mediterranean. He saw a lot of plastic and he said to himself, 'I am horrified. I have to do something about it.' And that is the difference between your generation and my generation. Your generation does it. 

SOUNDBITE (English), Nele Van HOYWEGHEN,  UN youth delegate for sustainable development of the Dutch-speaking youth council of Belgium , We're not stopping climate change anymore. We're fighting to attain a level where civilisations have a chance of surviving. By 2100, more than half of our oceans will have a different colour compared to today. Just imagine seeing a satellite image of our blue planet and not recognising it anymore.

SOUNDBITE (English), S&#233;bastien WILLEMART , Representative of the French-speaking youth council of Belgium , As people have been shouting on the streets for weeks now, we need a system change. Not climate change. Besides the specific ocean economy related demands, we also ask each and every one of you to integrate intergenerational justice and equity as a major guideline in your decision making process at all levels.

Illustration shots of plastic in the oceans. 