CCB MEDIA PHOTO
(From Left) Dr. Mark Abbott, President and Director, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and H.E. Peter Thomson President of the UN General Assembly speak at a press conference Friday, held at a WHOI laboratory.
WOODS HOLE – The President of the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly Peter Thomson visited some of the laboratories at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) Friday.
Peter Thomson, of Fiji, commented that the facility is a world leader in scientific research pertaining to the ocean, and said he hopes their studies and resources will be used in an international campaign called the Sustainable Development Goals.
That initiative focuses on fighting climate change and creating a sustainable future for the next generations. Thomson said oceans play a huge role in global health.
“We see the changes happening, we know the ocean is in trouble, we see every beach not in front of a hotel with a group of men coming in the morning to sweep it clean, on ever other beach we see plastic and debris all over the world,” he said.
Thomson was shown some of WHOI’s research and equipment used in determining the negative effects of microplastics in the ocean.
Thomson and much of the rest of the United Nations Assembly will hold an Ocean Conference at the United Nations in New York from 5-9 June this year.
He said the organization will give exclusive focus to the issue during that conference.
The event is expected to populate a Register of Voluntary Commitments, a sort of pledging program open to multinational corporations, governments, and even individuals dedicated to doing their part to help the environment and create a sustainable future.
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