Good news from ISLANDS Caribbean!

On March 15, BCRC Caribbean in collaboration with CARICOM organised the Regional Standards Development Inception.

The meeting initiated Output 1.4 of the GEF ISLANDS Project’s regional work which aims to increase capacity for the development and implementation of national and regional chemicals and products standards including the Globally Harmonized Systems (GHS).

Read the press release or reach out to Rachel Ramsey to find out more!

Nominations are open for UNEP’s Champions of the Earth Award 2023. This is a great showcase for all the innovations, solutions, actions and initiatives that individuals, organizations and governments are working on top combat some of the most serious issues facing our planet today. This year the focus is on Beating Plastic Pollution. Take a look at the website, learn about the past winners and perhaps even nominate a champion yourself!

When it comes to humanity’s relationship with the climate, it has become clear that every person has to do something to reduce the harm we are doing to the Earth. From the smallest gesture in our homes like using a reusable shopping bag to innovations with some of the largest moving objects ever built – such as container ships. It may surprise some to learn that international cargo and container shipping is responsible for 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions – equal to the total emissions of Japan, a major industrialized economy.

Take a look at this article from William Ralston at Bloomberg, published on business-standard.com, outlining how the shipping industry is trying to clean up its act. If efforts like this are taken across sectors with all of us doing what we can to reduce our own polluting footprint, the tide will start to turn on global pollution.

After 20 years - UN member states have agreed a landmark decision to protect the high seas - areas beyond national jurisdiction. This is hugely positive for Small land, large ocean states. More information in the Guardian article.