Oceans - what is happening, what is working, and how to help

PHOTO VIA WIKIPEDIA, CC BY-SA

The picture

The ocean produces much of the oxygen we breathe, absorbs about a quarter of human CO₂ emissions and around 90% of the extra heat we trap. Protecting it - the goal of “30x30” - protects everything in it.

The science

The ocean covers ~71% of Earth’s surface and holds ~97% of its water.

In numbers

~25%CO₂ the ocean absorbs

~90%Extra heat absorbed

30% by 203030x30 target

Worth repeating at dinner

The ocean absorbs roughly a quarter of the CO₂ we emit.

- NOAA

Over 8 million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean each year.

- UNEP

Most of the oxygen we breathe comes from ocean plankton.

- NOAA

What they face

Plastic pollution

Plastic breaks into microplastics that spread through the food web.

UNEP

Overfishing

Around a third of assessed fish stocks are overfished.

FAO

What is already working

Marine protected areas

No-take zones let ecosystems and fisheries recover.

30x30 goal

A global push to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030.

Reasons for hope

MPAs expanding

Protected ocean area has grown steadily toward the 30x30 goal.

Meet them

Giant Pacific octopus Ocean sunfish Atlantic bluefin tuna Giant squid Portuguese man o' war

Small actions that reach them

Refuse one single-use plastic

8M+ tonnes of plastic enter the ocean yearly, harming turtles, seabirds and whales.

~2 min

Pick up 10 pieces of trash

Coastal litter is ingested by marine life; small cleanups add up across communities.

~15 min

Choose sustainable seafood

Overfishing and bycatch threaten sharks, turtles and fish stocks.

~10 min

Switch to microplastic-free products

Microbeads and synthetic glitter wash into waterways and enter the food chain.

~10 min

Wash clothes cold and full

Cold, full loads cut energy and shed fewer microplastics into rivers and seas.

~2 min

Switch to reef-safe sunscreen

Common sunscreen ingredients like oxybenzone and octinoxate wash off swimmers and contribute to coral bleaching in popular bays.

~5 min

People doing the big work

Ocean Conservancy ↗NOAA ↗

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