We are so excited to tell you about a major victory that our supporters helped achieve. Yesterday at the UN Ocean Conference, the Colombian government announced it will create four new official marine reserves, including one expanding the fully protected Malpelo Sanctuary of Fauna and Flora. Colombia will now surpass the goal of protecting 30% of its waters eight years before the 2030 deadline! The initiative to protect 30% of the global ocean by the year 2030, referred to as 30x30, is a target that scientists have indicated is necessary in order to prevent irreversible loss of marine life. A huge thank you to everyone who made their voice heard on the petition to protect the Eastern Tropical Pacific marine corridor. And, of course, this win would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of Colombia’s environmental, fishing, and maritime authorities, along with scientists, the private fishing sector, nonprofits, and the people of Colombia. With this remarkable action, Colombia will strengthen local fisheries, sustainable livelihoods, and the protection of marine biodiversity in its native waters and throughout the Eastern Tropical Pacific marine corridor. If you’d like to move another campaign to create sanctuaries close to victory, consider adding your name to the brand-new petition to expand the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument 🌎 ⛵️
What you need to know
Shell, a notorious global oil giant, recently turned on a massive new facility on the Pennsylvania side of the Ohio River Valley. The pollution from this new complex — which converts oil into single-use plastic products — threatens residents’ health, environment, and entire way of life in the Ohio River Valley.
This Shell plant has already been charged with more than a dozen safety violations this year, and had to pay a $10 million fine. Meanwhile, local government officials failed to produce an acceptable emergency preparedness plan and even canceled a town hall event that community members organized for residents to share their concerns.
