Life began in the Oceans!

Earth, often referred to as the 'blue planet' or famously as the 'pale blue dot' by Carl Sagan, is predominantly covered by vast oceans that gently envelop the globe. These waters are home to majestic giants like blue whales, giant squids, and great white sharks, as well as microorganisms such as phytoplankton and krill. Gently swinging with the waves are the kelps forest and seagrass meadows, nurturing dugongs and turtles, and functioning as nurseries to a variety of species.

Over the years, however, the oceans have faced an onslaught from urbanisation and industrialisation leading to #overfishing, #marinepollution (plastics and others) and ocean acidification, loss of #habitats and #species, and eventually the loss of livelihoods for coastal communities.

The ocean already contributing to the economy of maritime nations, is seen as the next frontier of the blue economy, with shipping (transport), tourism, and energy as lead sectors. According to the UNDESA report, the contribution of the ocean to the global economy is projected to double from $1.5 trillion in 2010 to $3 trillion by 2030. The WWF Report Reviving the?Ocean Economy: The case for action - 2015, estimates the value of key ocean assets to be at least US$ 24 trillion.?

With an increase in the valuation of ocean health to the well-being of the planet and humans, the ocean is at the heart of many global policies and practices, especially the Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (#BBNJ) and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (#KM-GBF).

The ocean is an ally in our fight against climate change, serving as the greatest carbon storage, absorbing excess heat and energy from rising greenhouse gas emissions, and producing 50% of the oxygen we breathe. Hence protecting our ocean makes perfect sense.

Together, let’s protect the ‘blue’ on our planet!