08/06/2021
What if I told you there's an essence on this planet so powerful that it can sustain all life forms, an essence that can capture carbon, regulate the climate and nourish humanity while providing us new ways to heal, connect and bring abundance?
Would u learn from it, honour it, or continue to take from it while ignoring its limits?
Our oceans are the lungs of our planet, they produce approximately 50% of oxygen, absorbs at least 30% of carbon dioxide produced by us, employ millions of people in the ocean-based industry.
But with the depletion of 90% of the fish population, the destruction of 50% of coral reefs, and the continuous decline of the "Living Capital Index" to 68% since the 1970s has raised the serious question that are we at the brink of major extinction events?
This year the World Ocean day kicked off with the theme of "The Ocean: Life and Livelihood" and marked the beginning of the UN decade of Ocean Science for sustainable development in accordance with SDG -14, which requires conservation and sustainable use of marine resources by 30% by 2030.
Why 30x30?
The UN decade of conservation launched with an ambitious target, of conserving 30% of natural resources, marine life and biodiversity by 2030.
The "Living Planet Report", 2020 of World Wide Fund (WWF) stated that currently we are overusing our biocapacity by 56%, and have led to a decline in the population of mammals, birds, amphibians, fishes and reptiles by 68% between 1970 and 2016.
Moreover, the UN environment program data shows a decline of our natural capital by 40%, whereas the produced capital has doubled and human capital increased by 13%.
Thus protecting an additional 30% of our planet resources, in addition to the target of 20% as climate stabilization, we can conserve the biodiversity and achieve the goals of the Paris agreement, and would also reduce the risk of 50% tropical extinction risk.
It's on us to determine the future we want, do we want co-existence or extinction?