Campaigners at this month’s Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa warned that ocean protection requires governments to halt new offshore fossil fuel projects.
Despite the warnings, the summit stayed silent on the growing wave of offshore oil and gas expansion. Activists argued that any serious marine conservation effort must address the emissions and pollution risks posed by new drilling.
The conference, which brings together governments, NGOs, and industry, did not include a formal commitment to curb offshore fossil fuel development. This omission drew criticism from environmental groups, who say the summit's marine protection pledges ring hollow without addressing the energy sector's impact on oceans.
The silence on offshore expansion comes as many nations, particularly in Africa and South America, push to develop newly discovered hydrocarbon reserves. Campaigners counter that such projects undermine global climate goals and could cause irreversible damage to already stressed marine ecosystems.
Critics of the activist stance argue that developing nations have a right to exploit their natural resources for economic growth, and that a blanket ban ignores the complexities of energy poverty and development needs. They say a more nuanced approach is needed, balancing conservation with the legitimate energy aspirations of emerging economies.