Offshore drilling platform.Photo: Getty
Offshore drilling creates dangerous greenhouse gases that are heating up the planet, causing disastrous hurricanes, floods, wildfires, droughts and heat waves. But halting new offshore drilling, and lessening existing production over time, would significantly lower emissions – andkeep the planet from warming to “catastrophic levels,“saysOceana,the largest international advocacy organization focused solely on ocean conservation.
This week,Oceanareleased anew analysisahead of the2022 UN Climate Change Conference (COP27),the largest annual meeting about the climate crisis, laying out the benefits of halting new offshore oil and gas drilling to reduce global emissions in coming years.
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“Stopping the expansion of offshore drilling has the potential to reduce emissions more than any other ocean-based solution,” Dr. Kathryn Matthews, Chief Scientist at Oceana, one of the authors of the new analysis,Beyond Expectations: Ocean Solutions to Prevent Climate Catastrophe,said in a statement.
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“It’s irrefutable that the climate crisis is here, now, affecting all of us through more frequent and intense hurricanes, floods, wildfires, droughts, and heat waves,” added Matthews.
This report “makes it clear that ocean solutions are climate solutions,” she added. “If we’re serious about preventing catastrophic climate change, our ocean is a great place to start.”
Oceans will be a big part ofCOP27,which takes place this year in the coastal city of Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt.
From Sunday through Nov. 18, world leaders, climate advocates and more will come together for the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
This year’s conference “will build on the outcomes ofCOP26to deliver action on an array of issues critical to tackling the climate emergency – from urgently reducing greenhouse gas emissions, building resilience and adapting to the inevitable impacts of climate change, to delivering on the commitments to finance climate action in developing countries,” the UN said in a statement.
“Faced with a growing energy crisis, record greenhouse gas concentrations, and increasing extreme weather events, COP27 seeks renewed solidarity between countries, to deliver on the landmarkParis Agreement, for people and the planet,” the UN said.
The five ocean-based solutions from the report include protecting marine habitats, safeguarding climate-friendly seafood, improving shipping efficiency, replacing fossil fuel power with renewable sources, and improving catch efficiency and fuel use in fishing.
Right now, nearly 30% of alloilandgasproduction comes from offshore drilling, whichgenerates greenhouse gas emissionsthroughout the entire process, according to Oceana. And they say that ten countries produce about 64% of all offshore oil and gas: Saudi Arabia, Norway, Qatar, Iran, Brazil, United States, Mexico, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and Angola.
It’s also a major contributor to ocean pollution, which wreaks havoc on marine life, coastal ecosystems, and economies with long-lasting effects.
“Life on Earth is inextricably linked to healthy oceans, but without bold and forceful action, a hotter and more acidic ocean will no longer be able to sustain the diversity of life as we know it,” added Geers. “Stopping the expansion of offshore drilling is a necessary solution to help ensure our future on this planet. And we know it’s possible thanks to the policies being implemented around the world.”
In recent years, many governments have enacted policies preventing the expansion of offshore drilling, including Australia, Belize, Costa Rica, Denmark, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, and the United States.
“We call on COP27 to recognize how ocean solutions can help us achieve our climate change goals,” added James Simon, President at Oceana.
For more information, please visitOceana.org/ClimateSolutions.
source: people.com
