Bangkok--24 Oct--Hill+Knowlton StrategiesThailand
Thai Union Frozen Products PCL (TUF)’s 32,000 employees worldwide havetoday proudlycelebrated TUF as a part of a global strategy for aligning ocean health and human well-being. Mr. ThiraphongChansiri, President, Thai Union Frozen Products PCL, became the first and only Thai member invited to join the Blue Ribbon Panel (BRP). The panelists include 21 global experts from 16 countries, emphasizes that without action to turn around the declining health of the ocean, the consequences for economies, communities and ecosystems will be irreversible.
Convened by the World Bank to advise the Global Partnership for Oceans (GPO), the BRPis comprisedof some of the world’s largest seafood companies alongside representatives of government, private sector, non-profit organizations, academia, and multi-lateral institutions.
Mr. ThiraphongChansiri, President, Thai Union Frozen Products PCL,said, “Guaranteeing the ocean’sprotection and its long term sustainability for generations to comeis an exceptional venture to be a part of. To date, the industry has initiated and engaged in a number of projects that have boughtabout great benefits, but only a few have trueuniversal impact like this.”
“After working alongside the global members ofthe Blue Ribbon Panel and seeing how a public-private partnership can be a key contributor to real change, I am convinced that the GPO will bring breakthrough solutions to today's ocean sustainability challenges” said Mr. Chansiri.
According to the panel’s report released late last week, fragmented approaches that fail to consider social, political, economic and ecological relationships will fail to meet the complex challenges facing ocean health. The report calls for an integrated approach to ocean investment and emphasizes the essential role of public-private partnerships. The full report can be found at http://www.globalpartnershipforoceans.org/indispensable-ocean.
Mr. OveHoegh-Guldberg, Chair of the Blue Ribbon Panel and Ocean Adviser to the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, said, “With looming threats of rising sea levels, warmer waters and a growing human population, we need healthy oceans and coasts to mitigate climate change, feed billions of people and protect coastal communities.”
“Getting to healthy oceans is a global challenge that needs the concentrated effort of big and small business, government and science. Though they brought very different world views, everyone on the panel agreed that we can’t keep going with business-as-usual and all parts of society must be part of the solution.”
From the BRP report, the panel agreed there is no quick resolution to the urgent ocean challenges. Therefore, it proposes these five principles to ensure effective GPO investments: (1) sustainable livelihoods, social equity and food security; (2) a healthy ocean; (3) effective governance systems; (4) long-term viability and (5) capacity building and innovation. The panel has recommended the principles be incorporated into all levels of reform from fisheries management to habitat restoration and incentives for pollution reduction.
Mr. Chansiri concluded “on behalf of TUF and its employees worldwide, I am honored to be part of this highly worthwhile, global initiative and committed to being a part of the future solutions for our oceans and industry. It’s time to make the leap change and give back our ocean its natural capital, even if we are only half ready.”
For further information, please contact:
Thai Union Frozen Products PCL
Ms. WisakaChanthakit (Neung)
Phone 02 298 0024 ext. 678 | Email
[email protected]
Hill+Knowlton StrategiesThailand
Ms. Marissa Tree
Phone 02 624 3501 ext. 208 | Email
[email protected]