The oceans cover most of the planet’s surface and account for approximately 80%. Majority of our oxygenProduction, and provides significant amounts of resources in the form of food, minerals and energy.
Our oceans are still shockingly underrepresented in international environmental conventions.
In international agreements that seek to unite the world in sustainable practices, the deep blue yonder is often reduced only to footnotes.
Our relationship with the oceans must change fundamentally if we are to move beyond mere token efforts to create guidelines that will ensure future generations continue to enjoy the benefits of functioning marine systems.
In a recent editorial, PLOS BiologyA team of researchers Their argument for a new framework aims to achieve just that.
“Maintaining environmental law as it is” equates with the legalized destruction and abuse of Nature. According to the commentary The article was written by Rachel Bustamante and Michelle Bustamante (US-based Earth Law Center), and Kelsey Leonard (University of Waterloo, Canada).
“International law must evolve to reflect the Ocean’s inherent rights to exist and flourish, as well as to regenerate.” Ocean health is human health.”
This is not a typo. It is a philosophical approach that places our natural environment in an equal position with humans, and not as a separate realm of exploitation.
The emerging field of mutual enhancement is one key component of the “mutual enhancement” principle. Earth law – an umbrella term for initiatives that aim to recognize the interdependence that exists between humans and their environment via our institutions and laws.
The right to existence is one such legal framework. It is an ethical principle that supports the development of laws all over the globe.
Earth law, Rights of Nature is one legal framework in the body of Earth laws that recognizes nature’s intrinsic value. It is not because of the potential for it to be used as property or as a resource that can be exploited, but as a living being in its own right.
Ocean-centered Governance, based on Earth law and Rights of Nature understandings acknowledges the Ocean is a living entity. It advances law, policy, institutional action, that centers the Ocean’s needs in decision-making. The authors write.
In December 2017, the UN General Assembly declared that 2021 to 2030 would be The Year. UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.
After the first, the decision was taken. World Ocean AssessmentIn 2015, a sobering assessment of our dependence on marine ecosystems was released. It was based on themes that included Climate change, food security, pollution and exploitation of natural resources.
In the end, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission was charged with creating a plan for improving sustainability of marine activities. The commission suggested a variety of positive outcomes and challenges to be addressed in the coming years. Global Ocean Observing SystemAnd changing the human relationship to the ocean.
Because of the complex mix of existing conventions, tensions and existing definitions regarding sustainable practices, some of those challenges are likely to be more challenging than others.
Before we can begin to act on a global scale, we need to share our values and expect the same in return for a healthy relationship.
It is clear that whatever we are doing right now is not working. Our The oceans are changingIn ways that aren’t good for future generations, Widespread loss is what we expectOcean resources forecasted for our children’s lifetimes
Bender, Bustamente and Leonard see the decade as an opportunity to make fundamental changes. They argue that we must shift our thinking from “ownership, separateness”, to “loving interdependence”.
This means that the ocean is worthy of all the respect and reverence we as individuals give it.
This commentary was first published in PLOS Biology.
