Friends of the Earth has fought to protect the environment for over 50 years. They are an international network of environmental organizations that was founded in 1969 that campaigns for environmental protection, social justice, and sustainability. They lobby for policy changes, focus on grassroots activism and provide public education.
I had the opportunity to learn more about environmental issues and take action to support a healthier planet.
I chose to focus on learning about environmental challenges and added my name to advocacy efforts focused on underwater noise pollution, also known as underwater radiated noise (URN).
The global shipping industry is one of the largest sources of human-made noise in the ocean. This noise can disrupt marine animals that rely on sound to communicate, navigate, and find food.
In regions such as the Arctic, where natural noise levels were historically low, increased shipping activity is creating new challenges for marine life and ecosystems.
Global warming is projected to increase sound speed at a global scale and produce regional acoustic hotspots. There are technical challenges measuring URN because of gaps in international regulations addressing underwater noise, making coordinated global action especially important.
It is possible to reduce URN through redesign of newer, quieter vessels or retrofitting of older vessels. The shipping system could be updated so that contracts and routing decisions include impact of URN, and so that fleets are monitored for URN (they currently are not).
Efforts to reduce URN could be aligned with efforts to address energy efficiency, bio-fueling, and decarbonization, which could bring about financial benefits for shipowners.
After learning about this area, I was able to get involved by filling out and signing my name onto advocacy petitions.
I enjoyed learning about environmental issues that I had not previously considered in depth. This experience helped me understand that environmental protection requires both education and action. Even small steps, such as learning about issues and supporting advocacy efforts, can help build momentum for meaningful change. There are many victory stories on the website, showing how advocacy, education and getting involved at the grassroots level, are driving change. Participating in Friends of the Earth inspired me to stay informed and continue looking for ways to protect our oceans and environment for future generations.
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