Over the 5 days from June 27, 2022 to July 1, the United Nations Ocean Conference was held in Lisbon, Portugal. At the opening of the conference, UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the current situation as an “ocean emergency” and called the conference “a historic opportunity to turn the tide.” The ocean is exposed to various impacts resulting from human activities, including pollution, destruction of ecosystems, acidification, overfishing, and disasters. Addressing such ocean issues is also one of the goals of the “Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).” More than 8,000 people, including 24 heads of state and government, participated and proposed approaches to address the problems facing the ocean from their respective standpoints. On this basis, nearly 700 pledges were announced to put the ideas presented at the conference into action.
However, despite this international conference on such a critical global issue, the Mainichi Shimbun, Asahi Shimbun, and Yomiuri Shimbun did not report on it even once. This article explores international movements addressing ocean issues and how the media has covered them.
UN Ocean Conference 2022, Lisbon, Portugal (Photo: WorldFish / Flickr [CC BY-NC-ND 2.0])
目次
The UN’s “Decade of Ocean Science”
The UN Ocean Conference was not the first of its kind; another was held in 2017. These conferences were convened amid a rising tide of global efforts to tackle ocean issues. Here, we will look step by step at how ocean issues gained global attention and how efforts have advanced.
It began with the UN Sustainable Development Summit held at UN Headquarters in New York in 2015. As a result of this summit, the “SDGs,” consisting of 17 goals and 169 targets, were set out, with ocean issues placed under Goal 14. To promote implementation of this goal, the first UN Ocean Conference was held in June 2017 to coincide with “World Oceans Day.” Then, in December 2017, the UN General Assembly proclaimed the “United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development” (“the Decade of Ocean Science”). The Decade aims, over the ten years from 2021 to 2030, for scientists, governments, businesses, philanthropists, NGOs, and others concerned with the ocean to work together, deepen understanding of the ocean through ocean science, and, based on that, devise and realize pathways toward a desirable future goal. The initiative is being advanced primarily by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC). Subsequently, the second UN Ocean Conference, originally scheduled for June 2020, was postponed due to the spread of COVID-19 and was held in June 2022.
The ocean faces vast and serious problems such as pollution, issues associated with climate change, and depletion of resources caused by overexploitation. The world’s seas are connected and these problems are intricately intertwined, so overcoming them requires humanity as a whole to work together. What specific efforts are needed? Under the Decade of Ocean Science, “10 Challenges” were set out as priority areas to tackle. These were distilled through discussions with various stakeholders during the Decade’s preparatory phase. As problems are solved or new ones emerge over the ten years, these challenges may evolve, transform, or be added to. The current ten challenges are as shown. They are grouped into “Knowledge and solutions challenges,” “Challenges for critical infrastructure,” and “Foundational challenges.” Let’s look at them in turn.
Knowledge and solutions challenges
Challenges 1 through 5 aim to deepen or generate knowledge and lead to solutions for the various problems the ocean faces. So what exactly are those problems?
Challenge 1 is to “understand and defeat marine pollution.” The ocean is exposed to human-caused pollution such as plastic waste, untreated sewage, and runoff of pesticides and fertilizers, and the impact of plastic waste is particularly severe. Around 8 million tonnes of plastic (Note 1) flows into the sea each year, and by 2050 the weight of marine plastic waste could exceed that of fish in possibility. It is said that plastic released into the natural environment can take hundreds of years to break down; for example, a plastic bag takes 100 years, a PET bottle 450 years, and balloons may persist in the natural environment almost indefinitely, according to estimates. In this way, plastics discharged in large quantities and remaining for long periods put marine life at risk. Therefore, Challenge 1 aims to identify the sources of pollutants, map and display them, and reduce pollution.
Plastic waste collected from a beach, Norway (Photo: Bo Eide / Flickr [CC BY-NC 2.0])
Challenge 2 is to “protect and restore ecosystems and biodiversity.” Marine ecosystems are under threat due to human-caused degradation of the ocean environment. For example, as sea temperatures rise, the habitats of plankton and fish are changing; species that cannot move easily cannot withstand the temperature changes and are declining, and severe coral bleaching has occurred. In addition, the overfishing of apex predators such as sharks and tuna by humans is disrupting ecosystem balance. The drastic decline of top predators is linked to increases in lower-trophic marine organisms that they prey upon, and even to mass outbreaks of jellyfish. Therefore, Challenge 2 aims to understand actions that harm marine ecosystems and to develop solutions to monitor, protect, manage, and restore ecosystems and biodiversity under changing environmental, social, and climatic conditions.
Challenge 3 aims to “sustainably feed the global population,” and Challenge 4 aims to “develop a sustainable and equitable ocean economy.” The global economy depends on the ocean for fisheries, energy resources, tourism, transportation, and more, yet limited ocean resources are not being used sustainably. Over the past half century, global consumption of aquatic foods has increased by about five times. According to the 2020 State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture, factors include continued global population growth, globalization of distribution systems due to advances in transport technologies, shifts toward diets centered on meat and fish accompanying economic development in low-income countries, and growing health consciousness among the affluent. The same report describes a grave situation: 93.8% of global fishery resources are either overfished or being utilized at their limit. In response, methods to manage and share fishery resources and solutions that reduce pressure on the environment are needed. In doing so, the world’s population can be fed sustainably, and not only limited groups in high-income countries but humanity as a whole—including small-scale fishers in coastal regions and the low-income population—can benefit from ocean resources.
Fishing boats, Senegal (Photo: Peter A Harrison / Flickr [CC BY-NC 2.0])
Challenge 5 is to “unlock ocean-based solutions to climate change.” The ocean absorbs much of the heat sent to Earth by the sun that remains due to the effect of greenhouse gases and much of the carbon dioxide, helping to curb the progression of warming (Note 2). However, due to human activities, the emissions of heat energy and carbon dioxide continue to increase and have exceeded the ocean’s capacity. Increased heat energy causes rising water temperatures (Note 3), sea-level rise (Note 4), and changes in sea temperature distribution and ocean currents. Consequently, disasters are becoming more frequent and ecosystems are changing. Increased carbon dioxide also leads to ocean acidification and serious problems such as coral bleaching associated with that change. To address climate change and its associated issues, Challenge 5 calls for understanding ocean–climate interactions through ocean science, and for using data and knowledge to predict change and respond.
Challenges for critical infrastructure
We have discussed various problems facing the ocean. However, despite covering about around 71% of the planet, there is still much we do not know about the ocean. Therefore, Challenges 6 through 8 aim to build the foundations for understanding and solving ocean issues by establishing observation systems, using ocean science, that everyone can access. Let’s look at each challenge in detail.
Challenge 6 is to “enhance community resilience to ocean hazards.” Sea-level rise, algal blooms, increasingly frequent storms and tsunamis are putting the lives and livelihoods of people in coastal areas at risk. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), over the past 50 years, weather-, climate-, and water-related disasters occurred on average every day, causing losses of 220 million US dollars per day, but thanks to early warning systems and disaster management, the number of deaths during this period fell to about one-third as many, decreasing significantly. To reduce risk and save lives, more effective forecasting and early warning systems must be established, and community preparedness and resilience strengthened.
Challenge 7 is to “expand the Global Ocean Observing System.” Sharing ocean information and technology worldwide contributes to safe living, generates productive economies, and supports ocean recovery. There is currently active international movement regarding the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS). GOOS is an international program to build an ocean observing system, led by the IOC and co-sponsored by the WMO, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the International Science Council (ISC). The development of such a comprehensive and integrated observing system aims to make more information accessible to everyone.
A U.S. government research vessel collecting sea ice data, Alaska (Photo: NASA HQ PHOTO / Flickr [CC BY-NC-ND 2.0])
Challenge 8 is to “create a digital representation of the ocean.” Achieving the ocean we want starts with information. To that end, for example, tools are being developed that can collect ocean data and analyze, manipulate, visualize, and simulate it. In this way, under the cooperation of diverse stakeholders, a comprehensive digital representation of the ocean is needed.
Foundational challenges
As noted above, building a foundation for understanding the ocean is important. However, it is meaningless without the capacity to use it. People, institutions, technology, and funding necessary for ocean science are concentrated among stakeholders and institutions in high-income countries, and there is said to be a persistent capacity gap in implementing and using ocean science capability. Therefore, Challenge 9 sets the goal of inclusive capacity development in the field of ocean science and ensuring that all people have fair access to data, information, knowledge, and technology. In response, UNESCO, for example, is providing an online learning platform to support all countries in participating equitably in the Decade of Ocean Science and acquiring the capabilities they need.
Moreover, simply providing knowledge is not enough to encourage people to act in ocean-friendly ways. Challenge 10 reconsiders the relationship between people and the ocean. By changing lifestyles and behavior at the individual level, ocean problems can be improved, and, in return, humanity can benefit from the ocean. For example, the intergovernmental organization “Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP),” which aims to conserve the environment in the South Pacific region, has formulated a priority action plan for people to take in order to protect coral reefs.
Researcher surveying a coral reef, Philippines (Photo: Klaus Stiefel / Flickr [CC BY-NC 2.0])
How is Japan’s media covering this?
With the UN proclaiming a “Decade of the Ocean” and large-scale international conferences being held to take on this challenge, ocean issues have attracted attention at the policy level and there is a cross-border movement involving the world. Is this situation reflected in Japan’s international reporting? We conducted an analysis focusing on the Mainichi Shimbun.
First, consider the UN Sustainable Development Summit held in September 2015, where the “SDGs” covering 17 issues, including ocean issues, were announced. In the month of September 2015, only 3 articles mentioned the summit and the “Sustainable Development Goals” established there. However, none of them focused primarily on ocean issues (Note 5). Even more surprising, there was not a single report on the first UN Ocean Conference in June 2017 (Note 6), the UN General Assembly in December 2017 where the “Decade of Ocean Science” was declared (Note 7), or the second UN Ocean Conference in June 2022 (Note 8). It is therefore hard to say that the Mainichi Shimbun is capturing the world’s major developments on ocean issues.
To examine longer-term reporting trends, we analyzed international section articles from July 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022—the past 2 years (Note 9). Only 30 articles could be identified as primarily addressing ocean issues, and even including those that mentioned ocean issues to any degree, the number was only 52. On average, that amounts to about 2.2 articles per month—clearly few.
In addition, there were various biases in the topics reported. The most frequent were reports of maritime accidents—ship groundings, oil and hazardous substance spills, and impacts on coastal areas—totaling 22 articles (about 42.3%). Of these, 11—half—were about the large cargo ship grounding that occurred in Mauritius in July 2020. Because the grounded vessel was owned by a Japanese shipping company, coverage was likely higher.
The next most common topic was disasters, with 12 articles (about 23%). All of these related to the undersea volcanic eruption off Tonga in January 2022 and the ensuing tsunami damage. Among these was an article reporting that the body of a British woman swept away by the tsunami had been found (Note 10). The announced death toll from the disaster was 4, yet the only death reported in particular detail was that of this British woman. There was also an article reporting that a Tongan Olympic athlete skipped the Beijing Winter Olympics to help his country recover (Note 11). As this athlete served as a flag-bearer at the Tokyo Olympics and had previously received attention in Japan, it is likely this drew media focus.
There were also 8 articles (about 15.4 %) that touched on climate change and associated issues. Topics included mass die-offs of mussels in Canada during a heatwave, melting glaciers in Greenland and the Arctic, coral bleaching in Taiwan, and efforts to protect coral reefs in Australia. There was also an article (Note 12) covering the U.S. administration’s publication that sea-level rise and extreme weather associated with climate change pose risks to national security. The least covered topic was marine plastics, with only 2 articles (about 3.7%): one on moves at the “UN Environment Assembly,” UNEP’s decision-making body, toward a treaty to end marine plastic waste, and one on the implementation of new EU rules banning single-use plastic tableware.
There were also 6 articles (about 11.5%) touching on the release of treated water from Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the sea (Note 13). The content mainly centered on the fact that Japan has been criticized by other countries and on countermeasures to reputational damage, and none directly addressed the impact of releasing treated water into the ocean. This topic likely also received attention because it relates directly to Japan.
Why isn’t the coverage more active?
There is little reporting on ocean issues, and even when there is, topics are skewed toward incidents and accidents directly related to Japan. The reporting cannot be said to adequately convey the problems the ocean faces and the responses to them. Why is this? Four possible reasons are outlined below.
The first is “domestic-centrism.” Whether Japanese people are involved often determines whether events and accidents abroad are reported. The attention to the cargo ship grounding off Mauritius can be attributed to this. In the first place, about 90% of Japanese news coverage is domestic, and the volume of international reporting is very limited. Within that, events related to Japan tend to be prioritized in the news agenda. As a result, the amount of reporting that can be devoted to ocean issues is limited, and they are often framed from Japan’s perspective.
The second possible reason is a limited reporting structure. The ocean is vast and deep. By contrast, newspaper overseas bureaus are few, and their locations are concentrated. For example, there is almost no reporting network in Africa or Latin America. This means that, depending on the location, reporting may entail time and financial costs. Also, sufficient coverage of ocean issues requires scientific knowledge and expertise, and the personnel able to report on them are limited.
The third reason is that changes in the ocean are relatively slow, so coverage of ocean issues is postponed in favor of news involving dramatic events such as accidents. Journalists also acknowledge that slowly progressing sea-level rise and pollution are, by their nature, less likely to become news stories.
The fourth possible reason is that because the Japanese government shows little interest in ocean issues, the media are not proactive in reporting on them. Past GNV articles have confirmed the phenomenon whereby Japanese media only become interested in the plastics issue, climate change, or SDGs when Japan or other major governments show interest. In this way, the media—which should play a role in raising issues—are instead trailing the government, those in power, and large corporations in their reporting.
However, are these valid reasons for not adequately reporting on ocean issues? First, regarding the first reason, the seas are connected, and as an island nation, Japan’s national interests are greatly affected by the problems the ocean faces.
Next, regarding the second reason, it may indeed be unrealistic for media organizations to be constantly out at sea reporting. However, even without going to sea, reporting should be possible using information published by various research institutions. Moreover, major international conferences dealing with ocean issues are held in places such as New York, Geneva, and Lisbon—where the Mainichi Shimbun has bureaus or can easily reach. Reporting on them should not have been that difficult.
Finally, regarding the third and fourth reasons, the media have a “watchdog” role in shaping public opinion by taking up issues and thereby pressing governments and companies for action. If the media continue to delay covering ocean issues because they are slow-moving, or to trail governments and companies, we may find ourselves in an irreparable situation before we realize it. It is desirable for reporting to take the lead and raise the level of public attention to ocean issues.
The scale of the problems facing the ocean is immense, and if left unaddressed, they threaten humanity’s survival. Is the media’s current posture acceptable? We hope for better in the future.
Note 1 The world produced 448 million tonnes of plastic as of 2015, and it is projected to roughly double by 2050.
Note 2 According to Japan’s Meteorological Agency, the ocean absorbed more than 90% of the heat energy accumulated globally over the 40 years from 1971 to 2010. About 30% of the carbon dioxide emitted by human activity has also been absorbed by the ocean.
Note 3 According to Japan’s Meteorological Agency, the global annual average sea surface temperature rose by 0.13°C in 2021. Over the long term, it has risen by 0.56°C per 100 years.
Note 4 According to Japan’s Center for Global Environmental Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, the main causes of sea-level rise associated with warming are: (1) melting of glaciers and ice sheets; and (2) thermal expansion of seawater as temperatures rise.
Note 5 Using the Mainichi Shimbun’s “Maisaku” database, we examined 22 articles containing the keywords “UN AND summit” from September 1 to September 31, 2015.
Note 6 Using the Mainichi Shimbun’s “Maisaku” database, we examined 57 articles containing the keywords “ocean AND conference” from June 1 to June 30, 2017.
Note 7 Using the Mainichi Shimbun’s “Maisaku” database, we examined 96 articles containing the keywords “ocean AND UN” from December 1 to December 31, 2017.
Note 8 Using the Mainichi Shimbun’s “Maisaku” database, we examined 59 articles containing the keywords “ocean AND UN” from June 1 to June 30, 2022.
Note 9 Using the Mainichi Shimbun’s “Maisaku” database, we examined 1,372 articles in the international section containing the keyword “ocean” from July 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022.
Note 10 “Eruption off Tonga: Body of British woman swept away by tsunami found” (January 18, 2022)
Note 11 “Eruption off Tonga: Skipping Beijing Olympics to help Tonga’s recovery—Tokyo Olympics flag-bearer says ‘I have other work to do’” (February 9, 2022)
Note 12 “United States: ‘Climate change impacts security’—US administration analyzes and releases findings” (October 23, 2021)
Note 13 While this may be considered domestic reporting, given the criticism from other countries over the discharge of contaminated water into the sea, it was counted as international reporting. For example: “Great East Japan Earthquake: Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident—South Korea expresses ‘regret’ over treated water plan” (August 27, 2022); “NEWSFLASH: UN rapporteurs express ‘deep concern’ over treated water release” (April 16, 2021).
Writer: Yuka Funai
Graphics: Virgil Hawkins
0 Comments