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Man-made
activities have damaged world's oceans
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Green
investment boosts economy, cuts poverty, pollution
LONDON, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Cleaner and
better-managed seas and coasts would help boost economic growth and reduce
poverty and pollution, a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report
said on Wednesday.
The report, produced with several other U.N.
organisations, highlights the huge potential of a marine-based economy some
five months before world governments meet to discuss pathways to more
sustainable development at a U.N. conference in Rio de Janeiro , Brazil
Around 40 percent of the global population lives
within 100 kilometres of a coast so the world's marine ecosystems provide
essential food, shelter and jobs to millions of people.
But pollution from oil spills, fertilisers, waste,
sewage and chemicals, as well as over-fishing, have damaged the health and
productivity of the seas.
By using oceans to generate renewable energy and
eco-tourism and shifting to more sustainable fisheries and transport, that
trend could be reversed and islands in Asia and the Caribbean
could reduce their vulnerability to climate change, UNEP said.
"Stepping up green investments in marine and
coastal resources and enhancing international co-operation in managing these
trans-boundary ecosystems are essential if a transition to low-carbon, resource
efficient green economy is to be realized," said UNEP executive director
Achim Steiner.
The report recommended key steps for
"greening" the seas across areas such as tourism, fishing, transport,
pollution, renewable energy and deep-sea mining.
CLEANING UP
Fertilisers such as nitrogen and phosphorous have
helped to increase crop yields but their use has led to the degradation of
marine ecosystems and groundwater.
The amount of nitrogen reaching the oceans has
risen three-fold from pre-industrial levels and this could rise by almost
another three times by 2050 if no action is taken.
Marine pollution costs $100 billion dollars in the
European Union alone, the report said, but this could be reduced by stricter
regulation of fertiliser use, removal and management and through subsidies to
encourage nutrient recycling.
The world economy could also gain up to $50 billion
a year by restoring fish stocks and reducing fishing capacity, according to the
U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Bank.
Investments in fuel-efficient fishing methods and
environmentally-friendly feeds for aquaculture systems would help reduce the
fishing sector's carbon footprint.
Cleaner fuels and more energy-efficient ship
designs could help cut emissions from the maritime industry which currently
accounts for almost 5 percent of global C02 emissions.
This is expected to increase by 72 percent by the
end of the decade as demand for seaborne goods hits all-time highs.
Ships are also responsible for transporting harmful
organisms in their ballast water which can harm marine ecosystems. The effects
of the transfer in nuisance and on exotic aquatic species is estimated to cost
$100 billion a year.
Wind, wave and tidal power could create many jobs
and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions but in 2008 these technologies
represented only 1 percent of total renewable energy production.
Installed capacity is not likely to rise
significantly until after 2020 as technology costs remain high and most
projects are still in the demonstration phase.
Greater financial incentives are needed to
encourage the private sector to develop more plants and bring costs down.
The report said deep-sea mining for minerals was a
possible new revenue stream which could help boost the world's economy and relieve
some of the burden on the terrestrial environment.
But the deep sea is a largely unknown environment
and badly managed mining could put more pressure on already stressed marine
ecosystems. (Editing by Keiron Henderson)
Source: Reuters. By Nina Chestney. 25 January 2012
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/25/marine-investment-idUSL5E8CO3OL20120125
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