We have all studied about it in geography, but forget as we grow up – that the oceans cover more than 70% of the earth’s surface. They contain nearly 97% of the earth’s water. We reside on an ocean planet, with land jutting out in parts! It is this magnitude and importance of our oceans that is celebrated on the World Oceans Day on June 8 every year. This year the theme is “Planet Ocean: The tides are changing”. The UN is also observing the Decade of the Ocean from 2021 to 2030.

The World Oceans Day is observed to recognize the contribution of oceans to human life, to highlight the challenges oceans are facing, so as to make efforts to keep them sustainable. Oceans feed us, regulate our climate, and generate most of the oxygen we breathe. They also serve as the foundation for much of the world’s economy, supporting sectors from tourism to fisheries to international shipping.

Much like other natural habitats, human activity and climate change are degrading the oceans at a breakneck speed. The blue world on our planet is facing many critical challenges.

The oceans absorb 23% of human-caused carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and capture 90% of the excess heat created by these emissions. And rising temperatures are causing ecological degradation. Oceans are becoming more acidic, increasing the number of “dead zones” which are deserted by wildlife fleeing suffocation.

Overfishing and consequent loss of marine life is another major challenge. It can cause the extinction of certain species while threatening the survival of any predators that depend on those species as a source of food. Rapid warming of the ocean surface is a primary cause of coral bleaching, during which corals lose the algae that keep them alive. Coral reefs are important because they support a huge amount of small sea life, which in turn supports both larger sea life and human economies. It is estimated that if we don’t act, nearly half of the world’s marine life will be extinct by 2100.

Pollution of the oceans – be it rising mercury levels or plastic pollution is a major cause of concern. Both the pollutants find their way into the food chain, and affect both animal and human health.

Oceans have always been important for the economy, and now special focus is on the ‘Blue economy’. The blue economy encompasses the sustainable use of ocean resources for growth, job creation, and environmental sustainability. The basic idea being to use marine resources in a sustainable manner for a variety of economic activities which include food, medicine, fresh water, minerals, and harnessing ocean energy.

Energy carried by ocean waves, tides, salinity and ocean temperature differences is referred to as ocean energy. Both solar and thermal energy can be harnessed from the oceans. Already ocean energy is being harnessed to generate electricity to power homes, transport and industries. It is estimated that ocean energy resources could generate between 45 000 terawatt hours (TWh) and 130 000 TWh of electricity per year.

India with its long coastlines, is also trying to harness the potential of the Blue economy. The government has launched a mission-mode project called the Deep Ocean Mission in this endeavour.

Oceans are a major, integral and essential part of our existence on this planet. If they thrive and sustain, only then we remain. The blue world provides us oxygen, food and jobs, and soon could also be a major source of energy. As the mission of the World Ocean Decade states, we all need to work towards, ‘Transformative ocean science solutions for sustainable development, connecting people and our ocean.’

Published in the Lokmat Times on 25, June 2023