Cities and regions call for a new EU Oceans Law to protect marine environment, reduce pollution and reverse biodiversity loss

Greens member Emma Nohrén presented the opinion ‘Local and Regional Authorities Protecting the Marine Environment’ in the CoR Plenary Session on 6 May. The opinion was adopted unanimously via electronic vote today, 7 May. 

​The Vice Mayor of the Swedish Municipality of Lysekil said: ‘Oceans and climate are two sides of the same coin! The climate cannot be regulated without healthy oceans. Therefore, the Climate Law needs to be complemented with an Ocean Law, which sets targets and deadlines to improve marine environment. Oceans’ pollution is a global issue yet local and regional communities are the ones carrying the main burden. We must kick-start actions to unleash local and subnational authorities’ untapped potential to protect the EU’s marine environment, while providing employment and boosting the economy. We can wait no longer. We have to put the EU at the forefront in the green transition as foreseen in the European Green Deal.’

Read the full press statement here​.