Marine conservation

Landfill. A lot of plastic garbage. Environmental problems.

Plastic bag bans in the U.S. have already prevented billions of bags from being used

January 23, 2024 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

Over the past several years, U.S. cities and states have passed hundreds of policies restricting the sale and distribution of single-use plastic bags. A new report – copublished by Environment America, U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund, and Frontier Group – says these laws have largely succeeded in their goal of reducing plastic bag use. New Jersey’s ban alone has eliminated more than 5.5 billion plastic bags annually.

Plastic bag bans in the U.S. have already prevented billions of bags from being used Read more

Norway moves aggressively to curb cruise ship emissions to protect fjords

January 6, 2024 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

Starting in 2026, only ships powered by alternative fuels will be allowed to visit Norway’s fjords. Lawmakers want to protect the unique natural environment and stop marine diesel oil and mass tourism from damaging the climate. Some ships are now powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), but that will no longer qualify as an acceptable fuel for cruise ships visiting the fjords of Norway.

Norway moves aggressively to curb cruise ship emissions to protect fjords Read more

Papua New Guinea creates two massive new Marine Protected Areas

December 14, 2023 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

Together they cover more than 6,200 square miles, tripling the country’s marine area under protection, and are the country’s first to be co-managed by Indigenous communities.

Papua New Guinea creates two massive new Marine Protected Areas Read more

Dominica to create world’s first sperm whale reserve

November 14, 2023 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

Commercial fishing will not be permitted in the reserve, but artisanal fishing will be allowed, as long as it is sustainable and does not endanger the whales. Large ships will be required to use designated ocean corridors to avoid disturbing the mammals.

Dominica to create world’s first sperm whale reserve Read more

E.U. agrees to restore 20% of its lands and waters by 2030

November 13, 2023 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

In order to meet these goals, member nations must restore a minimum of 30% of the types of habitat covered by the Nature Restoration Law that are in “poor condition” to a “good condition” by the end of the decade, with an increase to 60% by the end of the following decade and 90% by 2050.

E.U. agrees to restore 20% of its lands and waters by 2030 Read more

View of mountains and water in British Columbia

British Columbia, Canadian government, and First Nations announce $1 billion conservation agreement

November 3, 2023 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

The Canadian federal government has signed its first major nature agreement with a province and First Nations to mutually support protecting 30% of lands and waters by 2030. The agreement is meant to protect old growth forests in the B.C., support the recovery of at-risk species, and restore ecosystems.

British Columbia, Canadian government, and First Nations announce $1 billion conservation agreement Read more

School of fish with big fish in the middle

New Caledonia expands strictly protected coverage of its swath of the Pacific

October 27, 2023 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

A decade ago, New Caledonia established its entire 502,000-square-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) as a marine protected area. However, only 2.4% of the park prohibited fishing, drilling and mining. Now, the New Caledonian government has designated an additional 7.6% of its EEZ to be highly protected.

New Caledonia expands strictly protected coverage of its swath of the Pacific Read more

Countries pledge to raise $12 billion to fund coral reef protection

October 3, 2023 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

The International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) said it would secure a massive public and private investment to help conserve and restore coral ecosystems, which sustain a quarter of the world’s marine species and more than a billion people.

Countries pledge to raise $12 billion to fund coral reef protection Read more

Seventy-plus nations sign historic high seas treaty

September 22, 2023 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

The signing of the treaty is a significant step in a global effort to protect the high seas, areas of the ocean beyond national borders. The high seas encompass two-thirds of the world’s oceans, but only about 1% currently have any kind of protected status.

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Humpback whales make massive comeback on North American West Coast

September 10, 2023 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

Seeing just two humpbacks in Puget Sound was noteworthy in the 1980s. Today, the number of humpbacks has grown by an order of magnitude from about 500 on the West Coast to more than 5,000, including about 2,000 in Washington and southern B.C. waters.

Humpback whales make massive comeback on North American West Coast Read more

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