November 8, 2019 — The ocean is the lifeblood of our planet. It covers three quarters of the globe, produces more than half our oxygen, supports a wide range of marine fisheries that feed the planet, and absorbs 30 percent of the carbon dioxide we emit and 90 percent of the heat caused by those emissions.
In short, the ocean plays a critical role in our lives and livelihoods. And it’s just as critical that we do everything we can to protect it.
By 2050, the global population is expected to reach 9.7 billion people. While the projections regarding the impact that this population and their actions and emissions will have on the ocean may vary, none of them are good. Without definitive action now, scientists predict that by 2050:
• World fish stocks will be driven to collapse;
• Average sea levels will rise by 30-34 centimeters, increasing coastal erosion and exacerbating storms, flooding cities and coastal communities like Charleston;
• The ocean is expected to contain more plastics than fish (by weight); and
• The world’s coral reefs will be wiped out, increasing threats to coastal communities from storm surges and a loss of fish stocks that rely on corals for survival.