Cardinal Turkson calls for protection of oceans

11 Jun, 2017 | News

Cardinal Peter Turkson has called for more attention and protection of Earth’s seas and oceans in remarks to a United Nations conference on the need to “Conserve and Sustainably Use the Oceans, Seas, and Marine Resources for Sustainable Development”.

The Prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development noted to “The Ocean Conference” that no global accord yet exists for the protection of the oceans’ resources. He said such an accord is becoming ever more urgent.

Cardinal Turkson said the oceans’ value goes beyond fishing and navigation. “They are also a vast source of renewable energy and biological and mineral wealth, including those used by the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries.”

He also said they have a vast role in “air purification, a significant role in the global carbon cycle, climate regulation, waste management, the maintenance of food chains and habitats that are critical to life on earth”.

Cardinal Turkson went on appeal for an approach without selfish goals.

“While our care for our oceans immediately benefits us, it is also a gift to future generations, sparing them from paying the extremely high price of environmental deterioration and allowing them to enjoy its beauty, wonder, and manifold endowment.”

ENDS

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