CGTN Europe interviewed Professor Richard Thompson, Director of the Marine Institute at Plymouth University
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00:00Well, let's stay in Nice and speak to Professor Richard Thomson, Director of the Marine Institute at Plymouth University in the UK.
00:08But he's one of the delegates at that conference in Nice. Thank you for coming on the programme.
00:13So, will this ocean conference make a difference?
00:19Well, absolutely. That's what we hope. I mean, many of the challenges that face our oceans can't be solved by national measures.
00:26If you think of environmental problems on the land, many of them can be solved at a national level because of the interconnectivity between our oceans.
00:35And also, as you mentioned a minute ago, the vast areas of our oceans that are beyond national jurisdiction.
00:41It's really essential that policymakers and heads of state come together to work collaboratively for the future sustainability of our planet as a whole and the oceans are a key part of that.
00:53So, you say it's essential for partnerships, for collaborations to take place on these challenges from deep sea mining to exploitative fishing and plastic litter.
01:04How confident are you, though, that we'll get past the talking stage?
01:08Well, of course, that's always the challenge, getting 180 or more nations to agree on a global treaty, for instance, in relation to plastic pollution.
01:19Because, of course, there's always concern that there'll be winners and losers to every treaty.
01:23And that's why a key part of that to the negotiations will be the financing mechanisms to make sure that there's a just transition and that it's fair for everybody and nobody's left behind.
01:35And sometimes it seems like an afterthought, but I think it's really key to brokering those agreements.
01:41Because in the discussions I have with member states, it's certainly a key concern, particularly for some of the less well-off countries, that whilst, I mean, I remember one delegate saying to me about plastic pollution, he said, you know, his heart was telling him that absolutely we needed action now based on the science.
01:58But his head was telling him he wasn't sure whether his country could afford what might be required.
02:04And so the financing is going to be really key.
02:05So financing and those mechanisms around that, really important.
02:10Look, this conference is being billed as a high level, but the United States isn't taking part.
02:15Can these big money commitments you're talking about be made without the United States?
02:22Well, of course, that's very challenging.
02:25You know, we all live on and share this planet together.
02:28The U.S. is one of the most wealthy nations on the planet and one of the largest.
02:33And certainly in terms of its production and consumption, it's really clear they have a responsibility to take a part in these discussions.
02:40And so, you know, we are compromised by the current standpoint taken by the U.S.
02:46And that's not one from the U.S. scientists.
02:48I mean, I speak to many colleagues in the U.S. who, you know, one person I was speaking to recently had spent his entire life in trying to protect polar regions.
02:57And he felt that his career was being dismantled before him.
03:01So there is a key challenge there.
03:03But at the same time, what we saw at the last round of the plastic pollution treaty negotiations in Korea, in South Korea, just before Christmas,
03:13was what I would call a coalition of the willing with over 100 countries.
03:18It's basically saying, look, if you don't have the ambition to work towards addressing the problem of ending plastic pollution,
03:26then get out and leave it to those that do have that ambition.
03:30And regrettably, that could be the way that things go.
03:32But for me, if I'm thinking about the plastic pollution treaty, I'd rather have a strong and ambitious treaty with 120 nations
03:39than something that's so watered down, it's meaningless with 180, in the hope that over time,
03:46those that don't join the process initially would maybe come alongside because they'd realise that they were disadvantaged in terms of their international trade.
03:54Of course, I hope that we get an ambitious treaty that we can get everybody to agree on.
03:58But there is a move afoot to say, look, you know, we can't delay any longer.
04:02If you're not prepared to be ambitious in your hope for the future of the planet,
04:08then stand aside and let those that want that ambition to take that place.
04:11And that's what I imagine we're going to hear in the announcement from the French tomorrow around plastic pollution and other treaties.
04:19Professor Richard Thompson, thank you very much indeed.