A world conference on the oceans culminated this Friday in Panama with 341 government commitments to protect the marine ecosystem, which include funds for almost 20,000 million dollars.
At the close of the ‘Our Ocean’ conference (Our Ocean), the Panamanian Foreign Minister, Janaina Tewaney, announced that in the two-day conclave “341 new commitments” were sealed to combat pollution, illegal fishing and other threats to the sea, that imply funds for 19,970 million dollars.
He also announced that the next ‘Our Ocean’ conference will take place in Greece in 2024.
The closing ceremony was attended by former head of US diplomacy John Kerry, the main promoter of ‘Our Ocean’ and current White House envoy for climate issues.
The funds include 816 million euros (865 million dollars) allocated by the European Union and another 6,000 million dollars from the United States.
During the two days of debates in Panama, the 600 delegates from governments, NGOs, companies and international organizations had their eyes set on the negotiations at the UN in New York on an agreement to protect the high seas, which covers half the planet.
