united nations

The world of hydrography calls for more hands on deck

Gillian D'Souza June 23, 2023

Credit: Mikhail Varentsov (from imaggeo.egu.eu)

This week on 21st June, governments around the world observed World Hydrography Day to celebrate the role of hydrography in understanding the seas. Though initially thought to be a field limited to the navigation of ships, hydrography is being increasingly recognized for its knowledge contribution to the oceans, seas, coastal areas, lakes and rivers, as well as with predicting their change over ti ...[Read More]

Why single solution strategies cannot solve the plastic pollution problem

Gillian D'Souza June 2, 2023

Credit: David Jones (from imaggeo.egu.eu)

It appears that plastics have well and truly invaded even our most inaccessible environments: the deepest point in the ocean (the Mariana trench) and the highest mountain peak in the world (Mt. Everest) both contain pieces of plastic from human activities miles away. With plastic waste flowing into aquatic ecosystems expected to nearly triple by 2040, it is safe to say that nature is in “emergency ...[Read More]

Sustainable Energy Geoscientist reflects on UN’s COP27

Gillian D'Souza November 22, 2022

Munira Raji at the Just Transition Pavillion, COP27

This year, from 6 to 20 November, the United Nation’s COP27 took place in Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt. The conference hosted several high-level and side events, key negotiations and press conferences, attended by more than 100 Heads of State and Governments and over 35,000 participants who deliberated climate action strategies around the world. I had the chance to speak with Dr Munira Raji about her ...[Read More]

An ocean emergency is upon us. Can the world reverse ocean decline?

Gillian D'Souza July 8, 2022

Liu Zhenmin addresses the Sustainable Blue Economy Investment Forum. Photo credit: UN DESA / Helen Daun Rosengren

“The ocean is not too big to fail, nor is it too big to fix, but it is too important to ignore.” Last week, Dr Jane Lubchenco voiced a thought we’ve all had at some point: that the ocean is so vast and bountiful, it is almost inconceivable that people could impact it. And yet… Speaking to more than 20 Heads of State and Government, and an audience of thousands of policymakers, ocean scientists, bu ...[Read More]