Download
In a giant tent not too far from the sandy beaches and beautiful coastline of Rio de Janeiro, ocean experts were sounding sirens over the condition of the ecosystem covering three-fourths of the Earth's surface.
Saturday was The Oceans Day at Rio+20, the UN Conference on Sustainable Development. Daylong events had experts talking about the challenges of forming a Rio+20 Oceans Declaration and Rio+20 Ocean Commitments, which will be submitted to around 130 world leaders attending the summit from Wednesday to Friday.
"This is not the situation we would find ourselves to be in 20 years ago, so we bear collective responsibility for the fact that the oceans are as polluted as they are," said Rachel Kyle, vice-president and head of Network Sustainable Development at World Bank.
The major challenges facing the oceans include unsustainable fishing, climate change, ocean acidification, pollution and waste and the loss of habitats and biodiversity, according to a blueprint for ocean and coastal sustainability prepared by several UN agencies.
Jacqueline Alder, a marine and coastal ecosystem expert at the UN Environmental Programme, believes that human activities on land, such as wastewater disposal, should be held responsible for the amount of pollution in the oceans.
On Saturday, Oceans Inc, an ocean channel, began its weeklong Rio+20 broadcast, with updates on the progress of the UN interagency report, how measures to preserve the ocean are faring and how the summit is looking after the planet's circulatory system.
While the UN interagency report demands a number of actions for sustainable oceans, Kyle announced that more than 80 nations, private companies and international organizations have declared support for an alliance known as the Global Partnership for Oceans.
Although only 13 nations have joined the GPO, Kyle believes support for the alliance will increase in the runup to the formal Rio+20 conference.
It is unclear whether China will join the GPO, but the State Ocean Administration was a co-sponsor of The Oceans Day on Saturday.
The challenges for sustainable growth along China's 18,000 kilometers of coastline have been huge. Excessive and disorderly fishing, artificial farming, the rampant discharge of waste into the ocean and repeated oil spills over the years have seriously damaged the ecosystem.
About the broadcaster:
Emily Cheng is an editor at China Daily. She was born in Sydney, Australia and graduated from the University of Sydney with a degree in Media, English Literature and Politics. She has worked in the media industry since starting university and this is the third time she has settled abroad - she interned with a magazine in Hong Kong 2007 and studied at the University of Leeds in 2009.
翻译谈:“不忘初心”的英译及其它
中国和西方科技巨头的东南亚对决
体坛英语资讯:Seeded players march on, Chinese duo bow out at China Open
国际英语资讯:Iranian diplomat accuses U.S. of depriving Iran of benefits from nuclear deal
体坛英语资讯:70 years on new Chinas road to sports glory
国内英语资讯:China to build more marine research vessels
体坛英语资讯:Cologne sack sporting director Schmadtke
体坛英语资讯:Ralf hits winner as Corinthians consolidate top-four spot
国际英语资讯:NAFTA talks must benefit agricultural trade in region, says Mexico
国际英语资讯:End of violence key to success of Libyan political settlement: official
双11来了,还不会用英文砍价?
川普签署政令允许更多退役飞行员转现役
体坛英语资讯:Team USA renew 4X400m mixed relay world record at Doha worlds
国际英语资讯:EU offers 106 mln euros in aid to Sudan over natural disasters
如何从一个人的睡姿看出性格?
国际英语资讯:Trump to allow release of over 3,000 files related to JFK assassination
国内英语资讯:Interview: China plays major role in global economic integration -- New Zealand party leader
血型决定性格,还能决定你会得什么病
国际英语资讯:ASEAN defense ministers agree to step up counter-terrorism measures
国际英语资讯:Japans ruling camp wins two-thirds majority in lower house election amid opposition splitt
“This is not what I signed up for”
爱因斯坦留下的“鸡汤便条”告诉你幸福的秘诀
英国警察宣布以后不再管偷窃抢劫!群众反应炸了!
美文欣赏:越是爱自己,越应该对自己狠
在线课程掀起我国的新一波教育热潮
体坛英语资讯:Tim Wellens of Lotto Soudal became the new owner of the red jersey in the 2017 Gree UCI Worl
体坛英语资讯:Ex-Juve midfielder Hernanes eases Sao Paulo relegation fears
体坛英语资讯:Lazio players to wear Anne Frank jerseys after fans anti-semitism
国际英语资讯:WHO withdraws Mugabes goodwill ambassador title
老外在中国:揭开互联网匿名面纱