At the international conference “Our Ocean” in Panama City, the participants pledged almost 19 billion dollars (17.8 billion euros) for the protection of the seas. This was announced by Panama’s Deputy Foreign Minister Yill del Carmen Otero on Friday. The pledges alone include $6 billion from the United States.
Around 600 delegates from governments, companies and non-governmental organizations came together for the two-day conference on Thursday. They discussed the diverse threats to the oceans and possible protective measures. Among other things, it was regarding expanding marine protected areas, reducing stressors on the oceans and ensuring a sustainable “blue economy” – the equivalent of a green economy in relation to the seas.
The aim of the conference was not a binding agreement, rather the participants made individual financial commitments. Among other things, the USA already pledged around six billion dollars for the protection of the seas in the current year on Thursday. The money is to be distributed to 77 offshore projects. For its part, the European Union (EU) announced a good 816 million euros for marine protection.
