The Worshipful Company of Water Conservators received an
invitation to attend this high-profile event so I was pleased do be able to do
so. Accompanied by Thames Warden-elect Rob Casey we made our way down to
Lambeth Palace to join the seventy or so other invited delegates.
Convened by Lambeth Palace (home of the Archbishop of
Canterbury) and the Commonwealth Office, the Roundtable was entitled “Tackling
Marine Plastic Pollution; Lessons From Inspiring Community Leaders” and had
a very wide range of attendees. Ostensibly a faith-based gathering (but not exclusively
so) delegates had come from around the world to be there and share their experiences
and initiatives. It was entirely appropriate therefore that the Water Conservators
were in attendance to add our bit.
The first session was co-chaired by the Bishop of Bristol,
the Rt Rev’d Dr Vivienne Faull and the Special Representative, Commonwealth
Clean Ocean Alliance, Stephen Harris. After words of welcome they introduced
the opening panel of speakers including the Archbishop of Polynesia and representatives
from Queens College Oxford, Defra, Sky Ocean Rescue and Tearfund. Each gave an impassioned
speech about their work and the challenges ahead. These were very powerful and
served to highlight the very real problems across the globe and some of the
steps being taken to halt the tide – no small feat in some emerging economies.
There were many questions from the floor.
After coffee the roundtable discussions began with the
plenary sessions being expertly managed by co-chairs Professor Richard Thompson,
Plymouth University (he of our WET 10 lecture in March – see Blog No 101) and
the Rt Rev’d Graham Usher, Bishop of Dudley (himself with a BSc in Ecological
Science). These discussions centred on the experiences of the delegates and the
prioritisation of action in the short, medium and long term. With representatives
of such diverse organizations as the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, WRAP, the EA,
various High Commissioners from across the Commonwealth, senior Clergy and academics,
the conversation were never going to be boring. Some very interesting insights
were given and whilst there was a very strong sense of urgency there was also a
sense of hope that at last nations were waking up to the global threat and were
staring to mobilise. But there is a long, long way to go and the solutions will
take time. Lambeth Palace will be collating the responses and will publish
these shortly.
The event was followed by a light buffet lunch and the
opportunity to network which Rob and I took with all four of our hands! A
simply incredible event and one which the Company did well in making our points
and in listening to others. We hope for more going forward and look forward to
playing our part. Maybe the tide really is starting to turn?
No comments:
Post a Comment