How green is our ocean? That’s the question PERMAGOV coordinator Judith van Leeuwen tried to answer in episode 15 of the GreenDeal-NET podcast. Judith gave her perspective on marine governance and the challenges and opportunities presented by the European Green Deal. The audio includes insights from Froukje Maria Platjouw, the coordinator of our sister project CrossGov, in case you would like to listen to the full podcast.
Interviewer: When we talk about marine governance and governing our seas and oceans, what do we actually mean?
Judith van Leeuwen: Marine governance encompasses all the processes of negotiations and decision making and all instruments that actors use to steer both the use of the marine resources and space, and also its protection. The term governance was coined in the 1990s to indicate that it's not just governments that steer society and the use of marine environment, but that the steering is also done by all kinds of actors in a variety of ways. So, it's not just governmental regulation that is part of marine governance, but also advocacy work, awareness raising by interest groups, choices that we make as consumers or choices that industry makes or financial institutions when they make investment decisions.
Interviewer: What is the role of marine governance in the European Green Deal?
Judith van Leeuwen: The European Green Deal, first and foremost, sets a vision for European society. European society is intertwined with the marine environment, just like it is with the terrestrial environment. The marine environment itself is under threat. The ecological status of the European seas is not good. So, in order for European society to become climate neutral and resource efficient, and to achieve well-being, all of which are ambitions of the European Green Deal, the marine environment must be better governed and protected.
The European Green Deal includes multiple specific targets that focus on the marine environment or the use of marine environment. For example, there is an objective to extend protection to 30% of land and sea in the EU. Member states must designate marine protected areas that can cover everything from inland waterways to the sea. Another example is the Zero Pollution Action Plan, which aims to reduce the release of plastic litter into the environment by 50%, which includes marine areas. In addition, there are many renewable energy targets related to how much offshore wind energy needs to be produced in the coming years.
Interviewer: What are some of the barriers or challenges to implementing these targets?
Judith van Leeuwen: We know that different interests and priorities and the lack of
coherence and integration will impact the way in which the marine environment in the end
will be protected and how its use will be governed. What we don’t know so well is under which conditions both positive and negative impacts emerge. For example, there are strong and clear biodiversity targets, but there is a disconnect between these biodiversity targets and the sectoral targets or a push for growth and economic benefits. The latter are usually better developed, or at least the associated actors are more active in their promotion. Growth related policies are usually better implemented than those linked to biodiversity.
Effective implementation depends on land-sea interaction, and on having good data to inform policy development and abatement strategies. Something like plastic pollution can only be reduced if its production, use and management on land is improved. Tackling pollution from other sources is equally challenging. Take nano- or micro- plastics from tires. These emissions are generated on land while you're driving, and especially when braking. Data about these emissions needs to be made regularly available to properly assess how the resulting pollution enters the waterways and the wider marine environment. You need to know this to be able to identify measures that can help reduce pollution in the most effective way.
Once plastic enters the ocean, the effects of marine plastic pollution are felt across borders because plastic will travel everywhere, depending on the wind and ocean currents. This brings us to another important point – that is, the transboundary nature of marine governance. Effective implementation also depends on international collaboration and cross-level and -border coherence. In addition to EU efforts, a plastic treaty is being negotiated on the international level. An activity like shipping is governed largely by the International Maritime Organization, which is a UN Special Agency, while in Europe a number of shipping-related directives and regulation also exist. All of this adds to the complexity of marine governance within the EU, not least because the union often plays a strong role in the international policy landscape.
Interviewer: When you think about the future of marine governance, do you have some recommendations on how you would like to see it evolve?
Judith van Leeuwen: Given the nature of PERMAGOV, we would call for more involvement of social scientists in marine governance processes and in research around marine governance. A lot of natural scientists are working in the field; that’s important but not enough. We also need to understand how the marine environment is governed and how to overcome all the challenges just mentioned. Social scientists can help to better understand and reflect on these challenges, in particular on the ways in which they impact the implementation of policies, as well as how to deal with uncertainties and the complexity characterizing marine governance.
Another recommendation is to enhance the capability of different actors, not just the member states, their governments and ministries responsible for implementing EU directives, but also non-state actors because their practices have a significant impact on marine environment. The multi-stakeholder interaction will require time, knowledge and collaboration to produce reinforced capabilities to effectively implement the European Green Deal.
Interviewer: As a final and perhaps more personal question, what is it that gives you hope for the future?
Judith van Leeuwen: Since we’ve just talked about the diverse network of actors, my hope really lies with the younger generation. If we can foster their energy and idealistic views about how the future – their future – should look like, if we can capitalize on their passion for the environment, if we can enhance their capacity to make the necessary changes, then our future may be bright indeed. We should listen and engage the younger generation, including in the implementation of the European Green Deal. I think it can give us a lot of inspiration to find the courage to really make fundamental changes, such as embedding more strongly environmental considerations into economic systems and practices. We need more courage and political will. We need to let go of the idea that it’s only profit or growth that matters. A broader perspective is needed to stimulate growth sustainably. So, I hope the European Green Deal will also keep speaking to the younger generation.
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