Hollywood Stars Call For Treaty To Save The Oceans

Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz are among the long list of actors and environmentalists calling for more action to protect the oceans Getty/iStock)

- Louise Boyle

A cadre of Hollywood stars and leading environmentalists have called on world leaders to finalise a long-overdue, legally-

binding treaty to save the global ocean.

Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem, Stephen Fry and Bonnie Wright are among the A-list stars who signed the open letter, shared exclusively with The Independent.

“The oceans support all life on Earth. This week, you will decide their fate. You must finalise a strong Global Ocean Treaty here and now, at this final round of negotiations at the United Nations, or your grand promises and ambitious targets will be meaningless. We are hopeful, because you can do it if you choose to,” it reads.

“Billions of people rely on the oceans for their livelihoods, for their sustenance, for their existence.

“Your legacy is at stake. You could be remembered as the generation of leaders who protected the oceans. Or you could be the leaders who let greed stop you from doing what’s right.”

Other signatories include the explorer Ranulph Fiennes; environmentalists and broadcasters Hugh FearnleyWhittingstall and Chris Packham; and the fashion designer Anya Hindmarch.

Only about 1 per cent of the so-called “high seas” – the twothirds of international waters not bound to any country, and open to shipping, fishing, and research for all – are currently protected.

But the ocean, which covers 70 per cent of Earth and provides about 50 per cent of the planet’s oxygen, is being decimated by the climate crisis, plastic pollution, heavy industry and overfishing.

The ocean has absorbed about 90 per cent of excess heat trapped by greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels and the higher temperatures are impacting virtually all marine life.