The European Union’s (EU) environment chief said Thursday that 2022 must be the year for an ambitious agreement on the oceans, for action that protects the world’s biodiversity, and for starting negotiations to tackle the global crisis of plastic pollution especially at sea. Virginijus Sinkevicius, the EU commissioner for environment, oceans and fisheries, told a UN news conference that precious time to save nature and the oceans has been lost over the past two years because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the 27-member bloc is determined to move ahead quickly to steer “a global green transition.” “This year must be the year of the oceans. This year must be the year of biodiversity.… (and) it is essential to get plastics under control and the only way to do it is globally,” he said. “This year we must find a window of opportunity to reach agreements that will change the world for better.”

'2022 must see action on oceans, biodiversity and plastics–EU. (2022, February 6). Business Mirror, p. A3.