Yesterday, the Minister of Home Affairs, the Hon. Walter Roban, JP, MP, gave opening and closing remarks at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute's Inaugural Environmental Ocean Hero Awards.
Good afternoon and welcome to the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute and this, the Inaugural Environmental Ocean Hero Awards.
As the Minister of Home Affairs, with responsibility for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, I am passionate about protecting our environment, like the many individuals to be recognized here today.
Many of the Ministry's activities are focused on educating and informing the public on several environmental issues and implementing policies to address them.
Earlier this month, I attended the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow or COP26, held in Glasgow, Scotland, where I represented Bermuda as Chair of the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Association by way of our London Office to lead the Association's Governments at the event.
Through our official presence in the UK Pavilion, I was able to showcase Bermuda's precious and vulnerable natural environments and the Overseas Territories to generate high-level engagement to support our efforts to ensure adequate protection of these precious resources for the future generations.
I also directly engaged with representatives of countries signed to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Civil Societies, global media, and critical stakeholders in this space.
You may know that Bermuda, along with other Overseas Territories, represents the world's sixth-largest marine estate and over 90% of the UK's biodiversity. We are vital to the United Kingdom meeting its pledge to protect 30% of the world's oceans by 2030.
UK Overseas Territories are custodians of internationally essential habitats which span the globe, from the Antarctic to the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean to the Pacific. All Territories are vulnerable and will be among the first in line to experience the potential impact of climate change. Overseas Territory Governments are at the forefront of renewable energy, nature-based solutions, adaptation and resilience, ocean protection, and climate finance.
Bermuda is a leader in this space. We are turning away from fossil fuels and investing in renewable energy. We are developing bans on single-use plastics on land, starting reforestation projects, moving to electric vehicles, tackling invasive species, increasing the availability of solar power, producing a water and sewage solution, and protecting our coast. We are also developing wind power at sea and creating a marine spatial plan to protect and manage our ocean resources. We are also ensuring sustainable fisheries and protecting endangered species while bringing ecosystems back into balance. It is clear that as a jurisdiction, Bermuda is at the forefront of climate change and taking meaningful action.
With that said, I am incredibly proud to be here today to recognize individuals in our community that are working to improve our environment to create a healthier world for future generations.
As the proverb goes, "We have not inherited the land from our fathers, but borrowed it from our children."
Thank you.
Closing Remarks
My sincere congratulations to all the recipients recognized this evening for your tireless effort to preserve and protect Bermuda's environment. Your exemplary leadership is something we should all aspire to achieve.
Of course, as the Minister of Home Affairs, under which comes the Department of Environment and Natural Resources or DENR, I am particularly pleased to recognize for their efforts:
- Dr Tammy Warren, Senior Marine Resources Officer;
- Mr Robbie Smith, Natural History Curator;
- Dr Philippe Rouja, Principal Marine Heritage Officer;
- Dr Joanna Pitt, Marine Resources Officer; and
- Mr. Choy Aming, Senior Aquarist at BAMZ.
They are committed to protecting Bermuda's Environment, and having worked with them all on occasions; the awards are well deserved.
Among their many responsibilities, just last month, and as part of our ongoing efforts to educate and inform the public on the many important environmental topics, Dr Warren, Mr Smith, and Dr Rouja, along with members from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, held live radio questions and answers sessions. Dr Warren discussed pelagic fishery and the protection of sharks, Mr Smith spoke on monitoring Bermuda's reefs and water quality, and Dr Rouja on why shipwrecks matter, all of which is related to protecting our environment.
With that said, did you know that globally, around 8 million metric tonnes of plastic is dumped into our oceans every year? Also, single-use plastics comprise all of the top ten most common items found in Bermuda and international coastal clean-ups.
Furthermore, studies are revealing the negative impacts on human health. One 2019 study estimated that we ingest up to 5 grams of plastic a week or the equivalent of 1 credit cards worth of plastic. When ingested, our body absorbs some of the plastic's chemicals, known as endocrine disruptors, leading to the potential toxicity in our lungs, livers and brain cells.
With this in mind, last month, the Government completed the initial public consultation in October and is on the path to regulating single-use plastics in Bermuda by 2022. In alignment with this, the Ministry is communicating information on how to reduce our dependency on single-use plastics.
When ordering takeout to eat at home, one of the tips I do is to ask the restaurant to skip the bag, condiments, napkins, and plastic utensils.
Also, in the coming year, and as part of Bermuda's Economic recovery Plan, Government will introduce the Marine Development Act, which will include a marine spatial plan identifying a 20% protected area of Bermuda's Exclusive Economic Zone or EEZ. The EEZ consists of 200 nautical miles of ocean surrounding the island, and the Act will work to balance the development and sustainability in fishing, offshore renewable energy and "blue tourism".
As a small island nation, having the resources to manage and enforce our protections has always been a challenge. However, last week, my announcement that Bermuda is the first overseas territory to Join Blue Shield will soon bring this to an end.
The Blue Shield Programme will identify and analyze activities within our EEZ that may impact the health and sustainability of these biodiverse marine environments. Blue Shield will actively monitor activities, assisting us to ensure environmental regulations are met and, where necessary, help us with enforcement by taking action against non-compliance.
Last but not least and also as part of Bermuda's Economic Recovery Plan, the Government will introduce a Bill to facilitate the developers of renewable energy technology testing their products in Bermuda. This legislation will lay the groundwork for additional investment in Bermuda, whose innovation can reduce the cost of electricity for local consumers.
In closing, while we are all here today to recognize those in our community who go above and beyond the call of duty to preserve and protect Bermuda's environment, we can all make a difference by making small changes in our everyday lives. And ultimately, together, we can all be heroes and stewards of our environment.
Thank you.