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Supporting Our Oceans
Airway and Sleep Group would like to show its support and commendation of the international summit dedicated to the task of creating a more sustainable ocean. In the words of Explorer Jean-Louis Étienne, “We should remember that the Ocean feeds half of humankind on our planet.” Over the years the ocean has suffered from the depletion of biodiversity. Unreported and unregulated fishing, the emissions of ocean transportation, and the devastating effects of pollution from plastics are just some of the ways that humans are negatively impacting the health of our oceans.
The One Planet Summit
The One Planet Summit dedicated to the Ocean was held on February 9th through the 11th, 2022 at the initiative of Emmanuel Macron, the President of the French Republic, in the context of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The One Ocean Summit will advocate for negotiations on the adoption of an international agreement on plastics binding governments to reduce the use of plastics and manage their lifecycle according to principles of the circular economy. It will also go over solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in preparation for a new carbon-neutral economy like the electrification of harbors to mitigate air pollution and promote the decarbonization of ocean shipping. Lastly, the Summit will address ocean governance and the protection of marine resources and biodiversity.
How the Summit Works
For three days, hundreds of stakeholders from the entire world had made an effort to improve global cooperation and action to support the upcoming challenges of biodiversity, combating pollution, fighting illegal fisheries and overfishing, blue economy, and scientific knowledge. The conclusion of the Summit will hopefully aid in building a new global framework supporting Ocean stewardship with the signing of an efficient treaty to preserve biodiversity on the high seas.
The Brest Commitments constitute a first step in the participating countries’ response to the obligation we have to restore and preserve the extraordinary yet fragile life of our oceans. You, too, can make a personal commitment to protect the fragility of life in our oceans by making thoughtful decisions on the products you choose to buy as a consumer.
For one, opt for a reusable water bottle. 1,500 plastic bottles are thrown away every second of every day. By 2021, the consumption of plastic bottles is set to hit half a trillion every year. By using a refillable bottle, you can help change that statistic.
And if you can, opt to purchase products packaged in biodegradable or recycled containers like cardboard or glass. An astonishing 91 percent of plastic doesn’t get recycled but ends up in landfills or oceans. By making earth-conscious commitments in your shopping habits, you can help make a positive influence in saving our oceans.
Visit Airway and Sleep Group
Dr. Liliana Calkins, an Airway and Sleep Specialist in Orthodontics and Craniofacial Orthopedics promotes dental care using biodegradable and sustainable products like bamboo toothbrushes and chemical-free non-foaming toothpaste. To learn more about our dental practice, give our Silver Spring office a call at (571) 244-7329. You can also get in touch by filling out our online contact form, and we’ll get back to your shortly.