The Southern Ocean, the waters which encircle Antarctica, is a critical area for climate regulation and marine biodiversity – but currently less than  5% of it is fully protected.

It’s puzzling, especially when there exists a Commission that was established with the specific intent to protect Antarctic marine life. The Antarctic Ocean Commission (CCAMLR) was established in 1982 by an international convention, in response to krill populations being decimated as a result of overfishing. Krill are integral to maintaining the Antarctic ecosystem, and also play a vital role in locking away carbon in the deep sea.

The Commission meets on an annual basis in Hobart, Tasmania to review and develop Antarctic conservation measures. It was responsible for creating the world’s largest marine protected area (MPA), in the Ross Sea region in 2016. Covering 2.09 million square kilometres the MPA protects biodiversity and vulnerable marine ecosystems.

But for the last six years no new MPAs have been created, which begs the question: why? To answer this you have to understand how the decision making process within the Commission works. The body consists of 27 members and 10 other countries that have accepted the convention.

When a proposal is tabled it can only be adopted if all members agree. If some members veto the proposal it cannot be adopted. In simple terms, even if the majority of countries recognise the need for ocean sanctuaries, a minority can derail the whole process.

This was what happened during last year’s meeting when the Commission failed to reach consensus on creating three large MPAs for the Antarctic Peninsula, East Antarctica and the Weddell Sea, despite support from an overwhelming majority of governments.

Apart from this inefficient, consensus-based decision making process, governments who prioritise fisheries over safeguarding our oceans have  resulted in the CCAMLR consistently failing to provide Antarctic waters with a network of protected areas it so desperately needs.

Every day ocean threats are mounting. Climate breakdown has resulted in the Antarctic sea ice likely hitting a low winter maximum, while overfishing and pollution are slowly tearing away at our oceans life-sustaining fabric.

The Commission has the power and authority to support proposals for marine protected areas that have already been tabled to protect four million square kilometres of ocean now.

The next CCAMLR meeting is taking place in October 2023. Will the Commission deliver on its commitments and take the first steps towards protecting at least 30% of our oceans by 2030? Or will they once again allow one or two governments to block urgent ocean protection in favour of self-interest?

Unlike the CCAMLR’s failed efforts, the Global Oceans Treaty is a tool that can make ocean protection a reality. We urgently need to ratify this Treaty for 30% of our oceans to be protected by 2030. To do this, at least 60 governments need to sign on.

Sign our petition now to ask the Australian government to urgently ratify the Global Oceans Treaty, and start protecting our oceans!

Stretching over 260 kilometres along the west coast of Australia, UNESCO heritage-listed Nyinggulu or Ningaloo Reef (which translates to “deep water” by the Traditional Owners of the land) is the longest-fringing coral reef in the world. 

Considered one of the planet’s largest biologically diverse marine ecosystems and a highway for megafauna, Ningaloo is home to some of the most interesting wildlife in our oceans. So to help us celebrate this World Animal Day, here are 5 fascinating facts you may not know about the wildlife that calls the world’s largest-fringing coral reef home:

Say hello to 6 out of the world’s 7 marine turtles:

A number of Green Turtle hatchlings begin to erupt from a nest site as the sun sets and the temperature drops on a beach near Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia.

Did you know that more than 3,000 species of marine life, including 200 coral, 500 reef fish, 600 crustaceans, and 1,000 marine algae call Ningaloo Reef home sweet home? Not to mention 6 out of the world’s 7 species of marine turtles, 3 of which (the endangered green, loggerhead and critically endangered hawksbill turtle) call the reef their home year-round. This leads to the wonderful phenomenon of approximately 10,000 turtle nests dug each year along the Ningaloo Coast! Egg-cellent.

And the highest density of humpback whales in the Southern Hemisphere:

Aerial shot of humpback whales migrating along the Ningaloo Coastline in Western Australia, taken from a helicopter.

It’s not just the east coast of Australia that sees thousands of humpback whales migrating to our warmer waters each year. The west coast, in particular the Ningaloo Coast actually has the highest density of humpback whales in the Southern Hemisphere during their annual 11,000km migration from Antarctica! Scientists estimate that 30,000 humpback whales visit the Ningaloo Coast each year on their way to their breeding and birthing grounds further north off the Kimberley. It’s one reason why the area is known as a megafauna superhighway! 

Welcome to the home of the whale shark (and plenty of other sharks and rays!):

Whale shark seen during Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior documentation trip off Exmouth, Western Australia.

Ningaloo Reef is fondly known as home of the whale shark, aka the world’s largest known fish, because it is one of the only places in the world where the gentle giants regularly aggregate in large numbers. These docile and distinctively spotted creatures are filter feeders, meaning as the name implies, a whale shark’s diet is rich in plankton and krill.

Meanwhile, we know that there are two types of manta ray in the world (oceanic and reef mantas), but did you also know that Ningaloo Reef is considered to be one of the few places in the world where you can be lucky enough to spot both?! Congregating at Ningaloo Reef year-round, manta rays, like their cousin the whale shark, are also filter feeders and feast on the large amounts of zooplankton found in the area. 

And more than 10% of the world’s dugong population:

Aerial shots of dugongs and dolphins swimming at Ningaloo Reef.

Once thought to be mermaids by early sailors, dugongs (aka “sea cows”) are another species of gentle giants that can be found year-round at Ningaloo Reef. In fact, thanks to the area’s vast seagrass meadows, and a dugong’s hungry herbivorous appetite, Ningaloo Reef is believed to be home to more than 10% of the world’s dugong population. Sadly, like coral reefs, seagrass populations are threatened by the ongoing effects of the climate crisis, through sea level rise, salinity levels and ocean, and is one of the many reasons global dugong populations remain a vulnerable species.

Plus a coral reef that can be seen from space: 

View of the reef documented during Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior’s trip off Exmouth, Western Australia.

Did we mention that Ningaloo Reef is the world’s largest fringing reef? Or that it can be seen from space and is home to over 250 species of coral?! Stretching over 260 kilometres (that’s 226 times the length of the Sydney Harbour Bridge), Ningaloo Reef is believed to represent 50% of coral species in the Indian Ocean. What also makes Ningaloo so special is that coral reefs often don’t grow so close to a landmass, because rain washes silt into the water, making it cloudy and hindering coral growth. However, the arid climate of the Ningaloo Coast helps keep the water mostly clear. This means you can reach the reef simply by swimming from the beach.

…We told you Ningaloo Reef was fascinating!

Ningaloo Reef is an extraordinary place, as is the precious wildlife that calls this place home. Its unique and delicate ecosystem is one that we need to ensure is protected from the devastating impacts of the climate crisis. This World Animal Day, and every day, it is crucial to protect the reef and its biodiversity to ensure the survival of these incredible creatures.

Join our efforts to protect Ningaloo Reef and its wildlife.

There are so many beautiful places all over the globe to celebrate, and no two are quite alike. From the medicines that come from the rainforest to the lakes and streams that serve as our freshwater sources, there is no doubt that our well-being is interwoven with that of the environment. However, human impact has stressed many of these environments through pollution, mining, deforestation and changing climates.

The ten locations that follow are both stunning to the eye and biologically diverse. Many have a relatively low human impact due to lower population density or because of their remote location.

Today, these places appear to us as nature in its purest form, but how will they look tomorrow if we do not stand up to companies that are damaging our common home.

In order to protect these pristine conditions, we must take ownership of our own conservation and environmental efforts. From avoiding excessive plastic use to contacting your local representatives to demand change, the future of the environment is in our hands. Let us reflect upon what we are lucky to have on behalf of the planet, but more importantly, to recognise the importance and urgency in continuing to protect it.

1. The Rainforests of Papua New Guinea

© Markus Mauthe / Greenpeace

Areas of rainforest in Papua New Guinea remain relatively untouched by humans due to a spans of protected areas. Local communities have taken the initiative to keep control of their natural resources, and as a result the biodiversity has flourished for many years. Sadly, today, more than 60% of Papua New Guinea’s ancient forests have been lost to deforestation. And in Australia, we are part of the problem. Read more here.

2. The Galapagos Islands

© John Goldblatt / Greenpeace

The Galapagos Islands are home to incredible biodiversity, both terrestrial and marine. The endemic species of these islands were famously studied by naturalist Charles Darwin, and many of these species are found nowhere else in the world. The Ecuadorian government has created many initiatives to continue protecting this valuable ecosystem, such as a visitor management system that helps to monitor and halt invasive species introduction.

3. Seychelles

Photo by Alin Meceanu on Unsplash

A picturesque white sand beach in the Seychelles perfectly depicts the pristine landscape that is found all throughout this particular archipelago. Found off the eastern coast of Africa, the local government has instituted many marine protected areas which have been successful in warding off illegal fishing.

4. Namibia

Photo by jean wimmerlin on Unsplash

Located in Southern Africa, Namibia is one of the only countries to have a commitment to conservation outlined in its constitution. The country has also had great success in fighting poaching, as government organisations and the private sector have joined efforts to achieve greater environmental protection.

5. Antarctica

© Paul Hilton / Greenpeace

Only inhabited by its indigenous wildlife and a small number of scientists, Antarctica is the only continent on earth without its own native population. The almost entirely undeveloped landscape accommodates a limited number of hardy native species, such as the elephant seal, humpback whale, and emperor penguins. Additionally, there is a surprisingly high amount of plant diversity in the Antarctic, including numerous well-adapted moss and lichen species.

Sadly, the impacts of climate change and industrial-scale fishing operations are placing increasing pressure on this unique ecosystem.

6. The Great Australian Bight

© Ella Colley / Greenpeace

The Great Australian Bight, an open bay off the central and western portions of the southern coastline of mainland Australia, is home to dozens of seaside communities, majestic southern right whales, sea lions and hundreds of kilometres of towering cliffs. The Bight is also a breeding ground for many unique species, and 85% of Great Australian Bight marine life is found nowhere else on earth. 

7. Tanzania

© Roberto Isotti / A.Cambone / Homo ambiens / Greenpeace

Community based wildlife protection in Tanzania helps to maintain overall biodiversity of the East African country. Pictured here, an African bush elephant walks throughout Ngoro-ngoro National Park, Tanzania. Establishment of Wildlife Management Areas has helped to protect this elephant and many other species from poaching and habitat loss.

8. Jujuy Province, Argentina

© Martin Katz / Greenpeace

Located in the northernmost areas of Argentina, the Jujuy Province is home to a vast landscape of jungles, kilometres of salt flats, and towering mountain ranges. Pictured here is the Calilegua National Park, a federally protected area that is one of the most biologically diverse regions in the country. Transpiration from the dense forest vegetation creates low-lying clouds that weave their way through the treetops, as pictured above. Unfortunately, has been a history of being a target for oil exploration.

9. Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada

© Greenpeace

Full of vast mountain ranges and snow-covered peaks, Jasper National Park is the largest National Park in the Canadian Rockies. It is also home to healthy populations of rare North American fauna, such as grizzly bears, moose, caribou and wolves. 

10. Bear Island, Norway

© Mitja Kobal / Greenpeace

Bear Island, the southernmost island in the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago, is a federally protected area that is uninhabited and undeveloped by humans. Native species and large seabird colonies can be found on the island, oftentimes captured circling the steep cliffs. Bear Island also is dotted with glacial formations, caverns, and isolated rock pillars.

The wonder and beauty of our natural world cannot be captured in a mere ten photos, yet these images help to remind us what is at stake. World Environment Day is a powerful reminder and call to action for us all. We can all take steps to be a better citizen of the Earth, and can play a role in calling upon our decision-makers do the same. 

First identified living in the waters of the Indian Ocean and the South-West Pacific in 1966, Pygmy blue whales are an Australian-specific subspecies of blue whales, scientifically known as Balaenoptera musculus.

So besides the obvious size difference, what else makes this sets this subspecies apart from the real deal? 

Here are six interesting facts about Pygmy blue whales:

1. Blue-gene baby

They may look like something straight out of Avatar, but science tells us that Pygmy blue whales evolved from ‘true’ blue whales thousands of years ago, during the Earth’s Last Glacial Maximum.

It’s thought that the expansion of ice drove most of the blue whale population further north, and voila! Along came Pygmy blue whales.

2. It’s all in the nose

Feeding Pygmy blue whale off Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia.

Interestingly, Pygmy blue whales are believed to sing in a different language or “song” than other species of blue whale, avoiding interbreeding.

Other distinguishing characteristics of a Pygmy blue whale include a larger head and baleen plates, with a smaller tapering tail fluke.

They also have typically darker skin than other subspecies of blue whales, and their blowhole is a different shape too.

3. They may be small, but they are still mighty

A Pygmy blue whale can reach up to lengths of 24 meters and weigh up to 90 tonnes (‘true’ blue whales can reach lengths of up to 30 meters and 200 tonnes).

ICYWW: That’s ten African elephants!

4. They are gentle giants of the sea

Krill, Euphausia superba, represent a critical component of the Antarctic food web, providing food for fish, whales, seals, penguins, albatross and other seabirds, as well as marine invertebrates.

It’s ironic that the largest living animals on the planet feed on the smallest, don’t you think?!

Similar to other baleen whales, Pygmy blue whales meet their nutritional requirements to sustain their heavy bodies by feeding on small crustaceans (aka krill).

Scientists believe that some Pygmy blue whale populations may inhibit a particular area throughout the year, whilst others undertake an annual migration to Antarctica.

5. They are a whale of wisdom

The estimated life cycle of a Pygmy blue whale is thought to be similar to human beings, around 70 to 90 years. However, we are still learning about these majestic creatures of the deep, and their true lifespan remains a mystery to scientists.

6. And sadly considered an Endangered species

Greenpeace volunteer holds a banner in 1000m deep water in Gascoyne Marine Park.
Taken on a Greenpeace boat tour to document and bear witness to landscapes and marine life that may be affected by Woodside’s planned gas expansion project off Western Australia.

The Pygmy blue whale is currently listed as Endangered under the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.

Sightings are extremely rare. And ongoing threats from boat strikes, unsustainable fishing practices, oil spills, plastic, and noise pollution, plus others, means their recovery rates remain largely a mystery to scientists.

This is especially concerning with gas giant Woodside Energy currently trying to conduct seismic blasting in Western Australia as part of its deep-sea gas drilling project in the Burrup Hub.

You can help us fight back and protect majestic marine life like the Pygmy blue whale by signing our petition here.

From toothed whales such as orcas to the largest living animal on our planet, the blue whale. It’s no secret that we just really love whales.

To help celebrate World Whale Day, here are just some moments over the past 50 years of Greenpeace fighting to protect the gentle giants of the sea.

1. Greenpeace’s first anti-whaling campaign

Rex Weyler (standing) with Bob Hunter on the right, as the Phyllis Cormack and crew return to Vancouver from the 1975 whale campaign. The Vega drifts in distance, to the left.

In the summer of 1975, Greenpeace set sail on its first anti-whaling campaign in the North Pacific Ocean.

Here the brave crew confronted the activities of the Soviet whaling fleet onboard Grenepeace’s first vessel, the Phyllis Cormack. 

2. Helping to establish a moratorium on commercial whaling

Four Greenpeace climbers abseil down the front of the Auckland Sheraton hotel where an IWC meeting was taking place.

Throughout the 1970’s, Greenpeace continued to shine a spotlight on the whaling industry in a way that the world had never seen before.

And after a decade of committed campaigning to ‘Save the Whales’, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) voted on a moratorium on commercial whaling in 1982 – marking the virtual end of large-scale whaling around the world.

3. Taking action against seismic testing

Greenpeace action in Australia against oil giant BHP’s seismic testing in 1991. Thanks to the effort of the crew, seismic testing was prevented from continuing on this occasion.

Unfortunately, Woodside Energy’s current deep-sea gas proposal on the Burrup Hub is not the first time Greenpeace has helped fight off seismic testing in Australian waters.

In 1991, the Rainbow Warrior confronted fossil fuel giant BHP Biliton’s ship, WESTERN ODYSSEY, which was seismic testing for offshore oil at the time.

4. And against destructive fishing methods

Greenpeace activists hang a 30 meter long drift net on the side of a school ship in 1998

In 1998, Greenpeace activists joined 35 Greenteam children onboard their school ship on the River Danube, Vienna, to protest against harmful drift nets.

The Greenteam joined activists in tying paper models of different kinds of bycatch, including dolphins, whales and turtles.

5. Defending the Southern Ocean’s whale sanctuary

Inflatables from the Greenpeace ship MY Esperanza hold banners and utilise all measures available during the 2005 Southern Ocean Tour in an attempt to bring the whaling hunt to an early end, and make it the last time the Sanctuary is breached by whalers.

By 2005, Greenpeace continued to document the undermining of the moratorium on commercial whaling, and the Southern Ocean’s whale sanctuary which was established in 1994.

During the Southern Ocean Tour, Greenpeace ship MY Esperanza fought to expose the continued involvement of companies in the whaling industry.

6. People vs. Oil in the Great Australian Bight

South Australian community representatives and activists tell Norwegian oil major Statoil their oil rigs are not welcome in the Great Australian Bight in 2018

In 2020, Norwegian oil giant Statoil-Equinor pulled the plug on its plans to drill for oil in the fragile Great Australian Bight, one of the most important whale sanctuaries on Earth.

This historic win was thanks to relentless campaigning by coastal communities, Indigenous traditional owners, NGOs, surfers, the seafood industry, tourism operators, and other local businesses.

…Hooray for people power!

7. Fighting for a Global Plastics Treaty

Greenpeace activists present a six-meter tall plastic sculpture of whales in Zagreb in 2018

We know that plastic is wreaking havoc in our oceans – and unfortunately that means for whales too.

That’s why Greenpeace has been actively involved in making sure our precious marine life has a voice when it comes to plastic waste.

Greenpeace is currently campaigning for a legally-binding Global Plastics Treaty, which would limit plastic production and use for our human rights, our biodiversity, and our climate.

8. AND a Global Oceans Treaty!

Greenpeace volunteers hold up large paper panels saying “Stop illegal Fishing! Protect the Oceans” in South Korea in 2019

Protecting whales and our oceans go hand-in-hand, that’s why Greenpeace is campaigning for a strong Global Oceans Treaty that would see one-third of the world’s oceans protected from industrial activity by 2030.

This will build resilience against a changing climate, and ensure species (including whales) rebound and flourish into the future.

9. Protect the Oceans Research Expedition

Scientist, Dr Kirsten Thompson, lead scientist on the Arctic Sunrise uses a hydrophone to listen for whales in 2020 in Antarctica

Back in 2020, Greenpeace returned to the Antarctic during the last stage of the polar-to-polar Protect The Oceans Expedition.

Teaming up with a group of scientists, Greenpeace helped investigate and document the impacts the climate crisis is already having in this area.

10. Whales not Woodside

Greenpeace volunteer holds a banner in 1000m deep water in Gascoyne Marine Park, Western Australia in 2022

Right now, Greenpeace is embarking on its next fight to protect whales in Western Australia, where fossil fuel giant Woodside Energy wants to commence seismic blasting as part of its proposed deep-sea gas project in the Burrup Hub.

It’s the most polluting fossil fuel proposal in Australia today. And if completed, Woodside would produce gas until 2070.

Get involved in the fight for #WhalesNotWoodside today.

Our planet’s oceans face a lot of danger from human activity. Industrial fishing, deep-sea mining, plastic pollution, and global warming are all affecting our blue planet.

Scientists have informed us that by 2030 we need to protect a third of the ocean if we are to avoid the worst effects of climate change. 30 x 30, to allow the ocean to heal.

Greenpeace has been conducting research in the Antarctic for presentation to UN meetings that have been taking place throughout the year. Our aim is to raise support for a Global Ocean Treaty that will see 30% of our oceans protected as marine sanctuaries.

In 2019, the Greenpeace ship Esperanza embarked on a pole-to-pole voyage to document human impact on our oceans. The final stop was to Antarctica in 2020, one of the places furthest from human civilisation. Even here, there were still clear impacts such as fishing tools and nets floating in the water.

Celebrating 3 years of work on this campaign, we took our supporters behind the scenes with a digital event in March this year. Journalist and activist Julia Zanolli was involved in the recent Greenpeace research expedition to the Antarctic. She said that due to the remote location of the Antarctic, Greenpeace is one of few organisations with the resources available to study this area.

“Sometimes people ask; what’s your relationship with scientists? How does it work? We pretty much give them a lift. We make sure they can reach places that they otherwise wouldn’t be able to,” she said at the digital event.

This year Greenpeace took scientists to remote areas in the Antarctic to research how the climate crisis and fishing is affecting penguin populations in these places, using a mix of drone technology and artificial intelligence in order to keep track of penguin numbers.

We also provided these scientists with submarines to help document important evidence found underwater. The team were able to dive in 12 different locations never seen before by humans. Providing a stable internet connection also proved essential to Greenpeace’s ability to relay information to the media and update the rest of the world on their findings.

As you can imagine, these technologies do not come cheap and the reason we can afford these assets is truly due to generous supporters like you who believe in our cause.

“These stories wouldn’t have gotten out if it wasn’t for Greenpeace and people like you supporting our work,” Julia said.

None of our actions would be possible without your generous support. It allows us to operate independently and strategically, to respond quickly to environmental news, and to showcase
inspiring stories of ordinary people taking a stand against climate change.

The crew of the Esperanza hold a banner reading “Thank you”, South Orkney Islands, Antarctica.

During Steve’s tenure at the head of the Council, global wind installations grew from 74GW to 539GW and became one of
the world’s most important energy sources. He contributed significantly to the development of the wind industry in places such as India, China, Brazil and South Africa. He was a prominent speaker in public and private forums, and wrote innumerable articles, blogs and position papers.

He previously served in leadership positions at Greenpeace for nearly three decades. At both the Global Wind Energy Council and at Greenpeace, Sawyer was driven by a fierce love of nature and the sea forged in his childhood in New England, which he often described as most happily spent “messing about with boats.”

He studied philosophy at Haverford College (fellow alum Dave Barry wagged that its motto was “We’ve never heard of you either”) where he was steeped in the classics. But his reading of Aldo Leopold, Rachel Carson, Edward Abbey, and Saul Alinsky pulled him toward the rising environmental movement. From Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings he drew lifelong inspiration for seemingly hopeless causes, and the faith that a small group of principled and courageous under-dogs could, against all odds, change the world.

He was by his own admission a card-carrying hippy when a Greenpeace canvasser knocked on his door looking for a donation. Steve volunteered instead. He went door to door in the Boston area as a Greenpeace canvasser himself, before joining the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior in January 1980 to campaign against the transport and discharge into the ocean of radioactive wastes.

Sawyer’s story and that of the Rainbow Warrior would be entwined throughout Greenpeace’s early days. He lent his maritime knowledge to a refit in Stonington, Maine, blasting rust and painting, and later to converting her to sail to prepare for a crossing of the Pacific Ocean. It was there that the ship took on a mercy mission from which Steve would draw a lifelong sense of pride, relocating the inhabitants of the Rongelap atoll, poisoned by fallout from US atmospheric nuclear weapons tests.

Steve and the crew relocated the entire community and all their worldly belongings, whose requests for relocation had been denied by the US Government, despite rising incidences of cancer and birth defects. The event was seared into Sawyer’s heart and imagination.

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It was aboard that same ship that he and the crew were celebrating his 29th Birthday in New Zealand when two limpet mines, later revealed to have been planted by the French Secret Service, sent the ship to the bottom of the harbour, taking the life of photographer Fernando Pereira. It was an act of state terrorism in reaction to Greenpeace protests against nuclear weapons testing in the Pacific, a cause that Sawyer had spearheaded. The attack backfired badly, propelling the cause of the Pacific Islanders victimized by testing into the limelight, and driving massive growth at Greenpeace as donations and expressions of support poured in.

Sawyer’s handling of the aftermath, and the successful suit of the French Government for damages, further propelled his own reputation as a leader and in 1988 he was named Executive Director of Greenpeace International.

Greenpeace had some of its greatest triumphs in the years Sawyer was at the helm – from the declaration of Antarctica as off-limits to gas and oil exploration, to the Montreal Protocol limiting ozone-depleting gasses to an end to radioactive waste dumping at sea worldwide. He also led Greenpeace to begin campaigning in earnest against climate change long before most of the environmental movement understood the threat. According to insiders, his tenure marked the coming of age of an organization that had once prided itself on its rag-tag mystic hippiedom.

In 2001 Sawyer shifted his focus exclusively to the existential threat of climate change. Through his work at Greenpeace and the Wind Energy Council he became a familiar figure at the annual UN climate talks and fought fiercely to awaken governments and corporations to the dangers of rising temperatures. He had a scholarly understanding of the science, an activist’s anger at inaction, and a strategist’s eye for where to apply pressure or introduce solutions.

He is survived by his wife Kelly, his daughter, Layla, and his son, Sam.

When I was 16 years old, my father took me for a walk through our village. Falefa is one of Samoa’s older villages, and during our walk, Dad would recount stories from our village’s ancient days, as he pointed to sites of famous battles and the burial places of great figures.

As my father spoke, I started to imagine what this place looked like 50, 100, even 1000 years ago. Dad wanted to show me where he went to school and as we approached the beach, we stopped and looked out into the open ocean. There, beneath our feet, under a foot of water, lay the foundations of his former primary school.

Since that day, I have seen many other striking images of the impacts of the changing climate, through extreme weather events and the displacement of whole communities. But the experience of standing with my feet in the sea, atop the foundations of Dad’s old school, remains with me, a vivid reminder of what is now at stake for all of us in the islands, on the front lines of climate change.

For well over 30 years, the science has been clear that our collective addiction to old, dirty sources of energy such as coal and oil and the dumping of decades of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere has directly contributed to the changing climate. Yet, in 2019, we are still no closer to decisive action in many parts of the world – including Australia.

Australia’s decision to put profits over people finds expression in a Prime Minister and political system completely beholden to the whims of Coal executives. The Adani Coal Mine has just cleared the final environmental approval hurdle, and is poised to serve as an ‘icebreaker’ for up to six other mines in the Galilee Basin. This final approval is its groundwater management plan which will severely affect the quality of water for first Australians. Once again, profits over people.

The flow on effects of harnessing that much coal power will contribute significantly to the tonnes of greenhouse gases already being pumped into the atmosphere and thereby, to the demise of front line communities, already reeling from the constant barrage of extreme weather systems, sea level rise and ocean acidification exacerbated by coal, oil and gas.

Yet, Morrison has attempted to orient Australia’s foreign policy to the Pacific, describing Pacific Islanders as family. How many family members do you know would burn their family’s house down to keep their oil executive colleagues happy? It seems like Morrison’s idea of family is akin to that of the Dad paying child support to a child he doesn’t even like. In the Pacific, we have a very different idea of “family.”

Scott Morrison is an odd fellow but not a difficult one to understand. In one breath he’ll pivot towards the Pacific and sign the Boe Declaration and in the same breath, bring a lump of coal to Parliament in a declaration of love for the industry and donors who fund his campaigns.

Under Scott Morrison’s leadership, Australia signed the Boe Declaration, which recognises climate change as the number one security threat to the Pacific region. How can the Morrison Government reconcile its support for Adani with its acceptance of the climate change threat to the Pacific?

It seems as if Morrison – an evangelical Christian no less – is able to close his eyes to the realities of peoples in the Pacific, suffering from the effects of Climate Change, in order to maintain his government’s support of the industry that is the lifeblood of his political career. Not very Christ-like, is it Scott?

Once again, an unambitious, one dimensional Government has been re-elected in Australia, off the back of years of concerted misinformation campaigning and millions of dollars of coal money. To say that concerned citizens and indeed, the Pacific are somewhat dismayed would be an understatement.

We in the Pacific do not have the luxury of taking our foot off the pedal, of getting “climate fatigue”, or taking a break. For us, looking at decisions like the approval of Adani’s groundwater management plan this week and the likely opening up of the Galilee basin – what is at stake is our whole way of life.

We need to keep fighting to save our homelands from the impacts of climate change at every turn. We have no choice but to press on. To pick ourselves up. To keep campaigning, mobilizing, organizing and speaking truth to power even when power refuses to hear it. The Pacific will not go quietly into the night.

We have 11 years. This is the job.

This piece first published in the Daily Telegraph and News Limited online network here (paywalled)

The Great Southern Reef is huge – spanning 8,100 km from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean, right across the wild waters of the Great Australian Bight. And it’s one of the most productive ecosystems on earth.

The seaweed there forms vast underwater forests, capturing carbon and providing food and a home for hundreds of unique species, 85% of which are found nowhere else on Earth. This richness in life is what draws so many whales from Antarctica to feed and birth their young.

But because this is such a harsh environment, many of these waters go unexplored and undocumented. That’s why scientific surveys like the one we’ve been doing from the Rainbow Warrior are so important.

In fact, a study release just this month identified over 400 new marine species here!

But threat looms for the Reef: a spill from dangerous oil drilling in the Great Australian Bight could hit almost anywhere across the Great Southern Reef. That would be devastating not only to the marine life that calls the Reef home, but also to the fishing, tourism and recreation industries, and the thriving coastal communities who depend on these reefs for their way of life.

Whilst we were in the Reef’s waters, off Kangaroo Island in South Australia, we were diving some deep sites that have never been scientifically surveyed before.

What we found was yet more evidence of the astonishing beauty and biodiversity of the region. Take a look:

Filter feeding Gorgonian Fans and Sponges at Kangaroo Island. In the deeper waters life blooms amongst the huge, kaleidoscopic sponges and spectacular cold-water corals.

The beautiful Harlequin fish (Othos dentex) at Seven Mile Reef, Kangaroo Island.

This colourful little creature is a clown nudibranch, from a group of soft-bodied, marine gastropod molluscs which shed their shells after their larval stage.

The elusive but beautiful Southern Blue Devil is a hard one to photograph – they hide out in caves and are very shy!

Georgina Wood Marine Ecologist surveys a reef at Kangaroo Island.

The amazingly patterned dorid nudibranch.

Underwater filmmaker and Marine Biologist Stefan Andrews sets up diver communication equipment in preparation for a live internet cross at Kangaroo Island.

Marine Ecologist Georgina Wood surveys Kingscote wharf on Kangaroo Island.

A decorator crab, so-called because they decorate themselves by sticking mostly sedentary animals and plants to their bodies as camouflage to ward off predators.

Marine Ecologists Georgina Wood and Sam Owen hold a Greenpeace People Vs Oil banner.

If we’re going to stop catastrophic climate change we can’t afford to burn the reserves of oil we already have. Risking a pristine ocean for even more oil is simply outrageous, especially when we have an abundance of renewable alternatives at the ready. This is the work of an industry determined to eke out profit from a world that has already moved on from it.

If enough of us spread the word we can show that the world is watching and convince the Australian Government to protect it for good.

Protect the Great Southern Reef.

It’s not what we wanted to find. When Greenpeace set sail to the Antarctic earlier this year, we were going to look for the incredible wildlife – tottering penguins, majestic whales, soaring seabirds – that call the Antarctic Ocean home.

But even in these incredibly remote waters, we couldn’t escape from that scourge of our seas which is making all the headlines: plastic pollution.

Analysis now shows that microplastics and chemicals were present, respectively, in the water and snow samples that we took in the Antarctic during our recent expedition. This reveals that even the ‘world’s last wilderness’ is contaminated with microplastic waste and persistent hazardous chemicals.

Some of the pollution was immediately visible: our crew saw waste from the fishing industry floating in the waters, such as buoys, nets and tarpaulins drifting between icebergs. We took these items out of the water when we came across them. But, as this discovery of microplastics shows, the problem is so much bigger than just the visible rubbish – and it needs to be tackled at source.

Plastic has now been found in all corners of our oceans, from the north pole to the south pole, and even in the deepest point of the ocean. It’s previously been thought that the ocean currents around the Antarctic act as a kind of buffer zone, protecting the region from the plastic that is polluting the rest of the world’s oceans. While it is possible that some of the microplastics we found came from local sources (like land-based sources or shipping), some studies now suggest that microplastics could be coming from further afield.

       Microplastic sampling in Antarctic waters from aboard the Arctic Sunrise. 

The chemicals that we detected in snow samples also show how pervasive humanity’s impact can be. These chemicals are widely used in many industrial processes and consumer products, and have been linked to reproductive and developmental issues in wildlife. The snow samples gathered included freshly-fallen snow, suggesting the hazardous chemicals were deposited from the atmosphere.

Our snow sampling and water trawling were an important part of the science work that Greenpeace carried out during our three month expedition in the Antarctic. While it’s not the first time microplastics have been found in the Antarctic, Greenpeace’s report confirms the significant and measurable amount of plastic pollution in this area.

Our analysis provides valuable new information to deepen our understanding about the problem of plastic pollution in our oceans – and emphasises why we need urgent action to tackle the problem at source, in order to protect our oceans and marine life.

That means taking action on land and at sea to protect our ocean. Across the world, we need to stop the flow of plastic into the ocean by calling on companies to reduce the amount of plastic being produced and urging governments to introduce measures that can help end the era of single-use plastic.

Gentoo penguins are pictured on Greenwich Island, part of the South Shetland Island group, Antarctica. 

It also means creating safe havens at sea, which are off-limits to human activity, to allow animals to recover from the pressures they’re facing. This year, governments have the opportunity to create an Antarctic Ocean Sanctuary, protecting an area five times the size of Germany. 1.6 million people around the world are backing the call for this huge ocean sanctuary. Finding plastic and chemical pollution in the Antarctic only raises the stakes and increases the pressure on governments to protect it.

TAKE ACTION TO END THE DEADLY CYCLE OF SINGLE-USE PLASTICS:

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