News

6 billion tons of sand extracted annually, adding pressure on marine life

Geneva, 5 September 2023 – The first-ever global data platform on sand and other sediment extraction in the marine environment finds that the marine dredging industry is digging up 6 billion tons per year, the equivalent of more than 1 million dump trucks per day. This is significantly impacting biodiversity and coastal communities. 

Panama, 2 March 2023 – New announcements of coral reef action delivered today at the Our Ocean Conference in Panama include a £24 million GBP commitment by the Government of the United Kingdom and a $5 million USD investment from the Minderoo Foundation to the Global Fund for Coral Reefs grant and private equity funds, respectively

The new Green Fins Hub offers enhanced and global membership for participating dive and snorkel operators to conserve the marine environment 

Bristol, 13 September 2022 – Sustainable marine tourism is receiving a major boost with the launch of the Green Fins Hub, a global digital platform for diving and snorkelling operators worldwide.

Nairobi/Lisbon, 01 July 2022 – The United States of America and the European Commission have officially joined the Clean Seas Campaign, demonstrating their commitment to ending plastic pollution.

Lisbon, 28 June 2022 – The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) today launched the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Mediterranean Pollution Hot Spots Technical Assistance initiative, which aims to reduce pollution in the Mediterranean marine and coastal environment.

Lisbon, 27 June 2022 – Movie star and ocean activist Jason Momoa was designated the UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Advocate for Life Below Water today at a major conference mobilizing global support for an ocean besieged by the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and rampant pollution. 

Thirty-three Small Island Developing States join $515 million USD Global Environment Facility initiative to manage hazardous chemicals and waste Joint efforts will prevent the release of over 23,000 metric tons of toxic chemicals and more than 185,000 metric tons of marine litter in island states within five years Tourism, shipping, and recycling companies to facilitate the improved transportation and treatment of islands

Nairobi, 03 March 2022 – A series of regional conventions and policies are playing an essential role in monitoring climate change and preparing for extreme weather events, preventing oil spills, reducing plastic and other waste, saving coral reefs, and providing overall ocean protection and restoration of marine ecosystems.

There is limited data on the extent and impact of marine litter in the Western Indian Ocean region Flipflopi and partners will map the extent of marine litter in the ocean and around the UNESCO heritage site of the Lamu archipelago The baseline study will be used to inform potential interventions, including the development of local closed-loop waste management

Lamu, 21 February 2022 – The cre

Antananarivo, 25 November 2021 - Parties to the Nairobi Convention for the Protection, Management, and Development of the Coastal and Marine Environment of the Eastern Africa region (Nairobi Convention) concluded the 10th Conference of Parties (COP10) today with new ac

Nairobi, 21 October 2021 – A drastic reduction in unnecessary, avoidable and problematic plastic is crucial to addressing the global pollution crisis, according to a comprehensive assessment released today by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

The Shurmann family’s expedition, Voice of the Oceans, departed from Balneário Camboriú, Brazil, on 29 August. The expedition, supported by UNEP, will focus on documenting and finding solutions to the invasion of plastics chocking marine ecosystems. The family will sail through the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the Southern Pacific Ocean.

Brasília, 29 August 2021- Brazil’s seafaring S

Nairobi, 16 July 2021 — The Western Indian Ocean region has declared 143* marine and coastal areas as protected – an area covering 553,163 square kilometers, representing 7 percent of the total Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) for the region – according to a new publication by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)-Nairobi Convention and the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association.

Nairobi/Kampala, June 25, 2021 - Uganda has today joined the Clean Seas Campaign, demonstrating the country’s commitment to curbing the flow of marine litter and plastic waste entering lakes, rivers, and the ocean.

World Ocean Day: Autonomous robot system picks up litter from ocean floor

Bangkok, 20 April 2021 – The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) today announced that it is working to fight plastic pollution using citizen science and machine learning, with technical advisory support from Google. With Google’s support, UNEP will create a new machine learning model that reveals a more detailed and accurate view of plastic pollution in the Mekong River.

Washington, D.C., 3 March 2021–The Mississippi River Plastic Pollution Initiative was launched today at the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative’s ninth annual Capitol Meeting, where mayors representing over 100 communities along the river corridor are convenin

World’s first recycled plastic sailing dhow will promote circular solutions and call for an end to unnecessary single-use plastic in the region  The Lake Victoria expedition - setting sail on 4th March - is promoting regional collaboration to address plastic pollution  Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest freshwater lake, is facing a myriad of environmental and social challenges that could impact t

Nairobi, 02 March 2021 – New, pivotal guidance published today by the UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) provides a market-first, practical toolkit for financial institutions to take immediate action on their lending, investment and underwriting activities which negatively impact ocean health.

The Reef-World Foundation – the international coordinator of the UN Environment Programme’s Green Fins initiative – has launched new Green Fins cleanup guidelines to help dive and snorkel operators organise and host environmentally friendly coastal cleanups.

New York, 20 August 2020 – The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and The Ocean Agency, in collaboration with creativity partner Adobe, today launched Ocean League, a new campaign that showcases the power of creativity in driving positive change for ocean protection and climate action.

Nairobi, 8 June 2020 – Seagrass meadows can be a powerful nature-based climate solution and help sustain communities hard-hit by stressors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, but these important ecosystems continue to decline.

The Interamerican Scout Region and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) team up to reward young people who drastically reduce their plastic footprint. Scouts in the region will undertake the Clean Seas Badge Challenge to reduce single-use plastics. Young leaders will inspire their families, schools and communities to change their consumption habits.

Panama City, 01 November 2019 -

18 September 2019, Memphis, Tennessee -- As the largest navigable river system in the world, cities and towns along the Mississippi River have come together to tackle plastic marine debris as part of the UN Clean Seas campaign through the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative (MRCTI).

Nairobi/London, 7 September 2019 - More young people around the world will be able to join the fight against plastic pollution after the UK Government announced an extension of a global Scout and Girl Guides badge to create the next generation of international leaders to protect our ocean.