Today the Clean Adriatic Sea Alliance launched their online campaign, "The Adriatic Pledge", calling on the six Adriatic countries of Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Albania to implement a permanent ban on hydrocarbon exploration and production drilling in the entire Adriatic Sea.
"The Adriatic Pledge" can be found at their re-launched website, cleanadriatic.org, where a petition is translated into several languages. Individuals can sign the petition while businesses, organizations, and elected officials can send an email to info@cleanadriatic.org to be included in the list of supporters.
"We hope the campaign provides a platform for both individuals and organizations on all sides of the Adriatic to show their support for a permanent ban," said Clean Adriatic Sea Alliance founder Sam Evich. "It's the culmination of a growing public movement in the region."
Included in the international petition is a request for Adriatic nations to immediately craft strategic plans to move to 100% clean energy.
"2016 has been the hottest year since records began," said Rosalind Innes, member of Coordinamento Nazionale No Triv. "There is no time to lose in the transition to clean energy and in the protection of our seas. We fully support The Adriatic Pledge."
The German Society for Dolphin Conservation, Gesellschaft zur Rettung der Delphine, has also joined the campaign.
"This is a unique chance for the countries bordering the Adriatic Sea to take a lead role in promoting renewable energies," said Ulrike Kirsch, project manager of the German-Croatian project to save the last Adriatic Dolphins at Gesellschaft zur Rettung der Delphine. "We need to protect the Adriatic Sea which is home to a small remaining population of dolphins and other creatures."
Solar energy technology in particular is proving its competitiveness, and with the Adriatic averaging more days with sunlight than other parts of Europe, it is an ideal solution that grows local economies at the same time it protects coastal communities.
"The Adriatic Pledge" interconnects the fight for clean economic growth and the respect of the rights of the people," said Gino Cirillo, member of Coordinamento No Triv Terra di Bari.
The urgency to mobilize in response to climate change has prompted many experts to look at what would be required for the 100% clean energy goal. One of the most comprehensive road maps recently created by Mark Jacobson and The Solutions Project includes viable clean energy mixes for many countries worldwide, including the six Adriatic countries of Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Albania.
About Clean Adriatic Sea Alliance
CASA is an international non-profit, non-partisan, grassroots advocacy organization focused on health, environment and energy policies in the Adriatic region. For more information, please visit cleanadriatic.org.
Contact:
Sam Evich, Founder, Clean Adriatic Sea Alliance - info@cleanadriatic.org