Project Tangaroa: launch of the Malta Manifesto to clean up potentially polluting wrecks

A global, toxic legacy of shipwrecks containing vast quantities of oil, munitions, and other hazardous materials has been left by two World Wars. These wrecks are deteriorating towards instability, accelerated by climate impacts. Some are leaking and causing harm now.

Many of these wrecks lie close to vulnerable coastal communities, important fishing grounds, fragile marine ecosystems, marine protected areas and world heritage sites.

We are entering a decade of severely heightened risk of catastrophic damage caused by oil from these wrecks – damage to natural and cultural heritage that cannot be fully remedied. The harm to human wellbeing and the economic cost will also be enormous.

The time for concerted unified action is now. As we approach the 100th anniversary of World War II in 2039, we must commit to resolving this toxic legacy of conflict.

At this event partners from the Project Tangaroa coalition, including leaders from industry, civil society and UN agencies, launched the ‘Malta Manifesto’ – an urgent call to action to marshal the resources and collective will to protect people and planet from catastrophic oil pollution.