US Will Resist Efforts To Link Warming To Ocean Health; Senior NOAA Postings Still Vacant
The United States is resisting plans to highlight how climate change is disrupting life in the oceans at a U.N. conference of almost 200 nations next week, Sweden's deputy prime minister, who will co-chair the talks, said on Tuesday.
President Donald Trump doubts that global warming has a human cause and that U.S. scepticism has even affected preparations for the June 5-9 U.N. Ocean Conference in New York, Isabella Lovin told Reuters. The conference is due to issue a "Call for Action" to limit damage to marine life from threats the United Nations says include global warming, over-fishing and pollution such as plastic waste.
"I think I can safely say that the United States has not been very keen on strong language on climate change," Lovin said in a telephone interview. "We are not prepared to leave that (strong language) out. That's really fundamental," Lovin said of the draft documents. "The impacts of climate change are almost immeasurable."
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Lovin said it had been hard to engage Washington in the ocean conference, partly because key posts at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration remain unfilled since the end of the Obama administration.
The ocean conference will also promote partnerships, such as between governments and businesses, to address issues such as marine pollution, ocean acidification, and marine research.
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http://www.reuters.com/article/us-climatechange-oceans-idUSKBN18Q1T5