“Partnering with creative individuals like Jim Toomey and far-reaching organizations like the Reef- World Foundation helps UNEP to bring awareness about environmental issues to a much broader audience,” said Patricia Beneke, Director of the UNEP Regional Office for North America. “Sustainable tourism, including dive tourism, can also bring great benefits to people and the planet as we implement the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”
The Two Minutes on Oceans with Jim Toomeyseries now includes eight short videos, which provide the general public with scientific information about urgent issues facing our oceans today, as well as recommended actions to address them. They use animation and humor to illustrate the importance of oceans to human well-being and the environment. They are accessible online at no cost and have been broadcast around the world.
At the Asia Dive Expo, UNEP and partners will release the Green Fins Toolbox (#SaveOurReefs), which was developed through a public-private partnership initiative working with diving and snorkeling businesses, communities and governments in Southeast and South Asia.
The toolbox and video draw on the lessons of the Green Fins Initiative, which is currently working with over 400 diving and snorkeling operators, in six Asian countries, who are continuously improving their business practices to reduce the negative environmental impacts. The initiative involves regular assessment of industry performance against a 15-point code of conduct and supports improved industry practices and the development of regulatory frameworks.
“Green Fins is a catalyst for change,” said Chloe Harvey, Reef-World Foundation Programmes Manager. “It brings people from different sectors together, empowering them with tools and knowledge to take collective action and make lasting changes to the way they conduct business.”
About UNEP:
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading authority on the environment within the United Nations system. The Regional Office for North America builds support through the United States and Canada for UNEP’s work, to promote effective responses to international environmental challenges and to foster cooperation on environmental issues between North America and the broader international community. www.unep.org
About Jim Toomey:
Jim Toomey is a renowned cartoonist who has been writing and drawing the daily comic strip, Sherman’s Lagoon, for over 20 years. The strip is syndicated to over 250 newspapers throughout North America and appears in more than 30 countries around the world. Sherman’s Lagoon combines Toomey’s two life-long passions – art and the sea. In addition to producing his comic strip, he is active in marine conservation. jimtoomey.com
About Reef-World Foundation
Reef-World Foundation is a UK-based charity specializing in working with local communities to conserve coral reefs. Reef-world focuses on the tourism industry and specifically the diving and snorkelling community. Reef-World participates in the UNEP-Regional Seas Global Coral Reef Partnership and is the lead technical partner on Green Fins development and implementation internationally. reef-world.org
For more information, please contact:
Laura Fuller, Information Officer, UNEP Regional Office for North America
[email protected] Tel: (202) 974-1305
Monika Thiele, Programme Officer, UNEP Regional Office for North America
[email protected], Tel: (202) 785-0465
Jerker Tamelander, Programme Officer, UNEP Regional Office for Asia Pacific
[email protected], Tel: +66 2 288 1099
Chloe Harvey, Programmes Manager, The Reef-World Foundation
[email protected], Tel: Philippines: +63 (0)949 3140 789, UK: +44 (0)7967 377 982
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