‘Could be the last chance’: Green Party wants to lead an ocean rescue mission

​The Green Party has unveiled an ambitious rescue plan to protect 30 per cent of the ocean by 2030.

It hopes to create an independent Ocean Commission to advise government and appoint a Green Party MP to be an In-Cabinet Minister to lead an ocean rescue plan.

Speaking to Levi Matautia-Morgan on 531pi’s Pacific Mornings, the Green Party’s Pacific Peoples spokesperson Teanau Tuiono says the resources in the ocean can't be taken for granted. 

“The important thing here is for us to stop using the ocean like it's a bottomless packet of Tim Tams. It's not just an ATM machine just to pull money out of, we gotta look after it as well," he says.

“The ocean plays an incredibly important part in making sure that we can be more resilient to climate change, but also that biodiversity in there is a part of making sure that we have those healthy oceans.”

Green Party co-leader James Shaw says the ongoing damage from overfishing, pollution, and climate change is pushing the ocean to its brink.

“When it comes to the climate crisis, the window of time in which we have to act is closing," he says.

“The decisions that will be made in the next term of parliament could be the last chance that we have to avoid a climate breakdown.

“This year has seen new records set around the world for heat, it has also seen our ocean warm to its highest recorded temperatures.”

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