UNEP

"Greening" Fisheries Could Calm Troubled Waters

by: BorderJumpers

Wed May 26, 2010 at 16:20

Cross posted from Worldwatch Institute's Nourishing the Planet.

Fishing is a critical means of providing food, livelihood, trade, and economic growth in many developing countries-as well as the United States. In many small island developing nations and coastal countries - such as Bangladesh, Sierra Leone, and Ghana - fish provide at least 50 percent of the population's total animal protein intake. And approximately 43.5 million people's year-round incomes depend on fish production while another 4 million's depend on seasonal jobs as fishers and fish product workers.

Yet, despite the important role of fisheries in maintaining economic and social well-being, "fisheries around the world are being plundered or exploited at unsustainable rates," said Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). Speaking about the preview release of the UNEP's Green Economy Report: A Preview, Mr. Steiner argued that the current fishing industry "is a failure of management of what will prove to be monumental proportions unless addressed."

The Green Economy Initiative report, scheduled for release later this year, argues that investment in "greening" the economy across a range of sectors - including agriculture, fisheries, and water - can drive global economic recovery and lead to future prosperity, job creation, and improved environmental conservation.

Currently, some 52 percent of the world's marine fisheries are fully exploited and producing at- or close to- their maximum limits. Another 28 percent of the world's marine fisheries are categorized as overexploited, depleted, or recovering from depletion-a producing less than their maximum potential. And when fisheries collapse, there is more than just the loss of fish life to worry about: livelihoods, communities, and entire economies are ruined.

Though the current outlook on fisheries may be troubling, researchers say that all is not lost. According to the Green Economy Initiative's report, an $8 billion annual investment in rebuilding and "greening" the world's fisheries could have a positive, and lasting, impact on the fishing industry worldwide. Researchers say this investment has the potential to both increase fish catches and generate $1.7 trillion in long-term economic returns over the next four decades.

Some possible methods for "greening" fisheries highlighted in the report include providing job training in alternative jobs industries; reducing the size of fishing fleets to limit excess harvesting capacity; and providing additional funding for fishery management to expand marine protected areas.

To read more about fisheries and the impact of the fishing sector, see: Catch of the Day: Choosing Seafood for Healthier Oceans, Farming Fish for the Future, and Vital Signs Online: Global Fish Production Continues to Rise.

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What's Up With the Rainforest: More Hope, Less Blame

by: jamesboyce

Mon Apr 26, 2010 at 14:49

Celebrations of Earth Day has garnered some more of the world's attention to the environmental crisis threatening the health of the global community and our planet, but we must not forget that working towards a sustainable future is a responsibility that will require dedication all 365 days of the year. And while some corporations have jumped on the eco-bandwagon in an attempt to attract the green consumer, we would like to call attention to the unsung heroes. The individuals, communities, and national leaders who have continually shown a dedication to environmental activism, not driven by profit or personal gain, but by the mission of ensuring we have something to celebrate in the decades to come. We, along with our partner Rainforest Alliance, encourage you to join them, because even though there may be little acclaim for the individual in doing the right thing for the planet, your efforts will lead to rewards that extend far beyond your time.

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Eco-Costs of doing "business as usual" top $2 trillion--change is imperative says coming UN report

by: Paul Rosenberg

Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 13:30

I was always annoyed by those who talked about Obama as a transformational leader. One reason was that I was keenly aware of some basic transformations we badly need to make in order to have a livable future for all--none of which he seemed to really have a handle on. This diary is about one huge example of this.

By now, everyone knows about global warming. Many also know that it's not "just" an environmental problem--if left unchecked it will have ruinous economic consequences as well. But that's not the only global environmental problem we face that also involves enormous economic costs that most people are unaware of.

Thursday before last, the UK Guardian ran a story about a forthcoming UN report on the environmental costs of doing business the old-fashioned way, "World's top firms cause $2.2tn [trillion] of environmental damage, report estimates". The story's subhead read: "Report for the UN into the activities of the world's 3,000 biggest companies estimates one-third of profits would be lost if firms were forced to pay for use, loss and damage of environment." And the story itself began thus:

The cost of pollution and other damage to the natural environment caused by the world's biggest companies would wipe out more than one-third of their profits if they were held financially accountable, a major unpublished study for the United Nations has found.
The report comes amid growing concern that no one is made to pay for most of the use, loss and damage of the environment, which is reaching crisis proportions in the form of pollution and the rapid loss of freshwater, fisheries and fertile soils.
Later this year, another huge UN study - dubbed the "Stern for nature" after the influential report on the economics of climate change by Sir Nicholas Stern - will attempt to put a price on such global environmental damage, and suggest ways to prevent it. The report, led by economist Pavan Sukhdev, is likely to argue for abolition of billions of dollars of subsidies to harmful industries like agriculture, energy and transport, tougher regulations and more taxes on companies that cause the damage.

The report is the final stage of an ongoing process that's been under way for several years, as you can see at the UN's webpage for the project:

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