This year, it is celebrated in the French city of Nice, World Ocean Day, as prelude to the Ocean Conference organized by the United Nations, which will gather in the next five days (June 9 to 13) to representatives from different countries.
The unique coincidence of two important Oceanic events of the UN offers a double opportunity to expand visibility and collaboration efforts in favor of the ocean.
The third United Nations conference on the oceans (UNOC 3), coorganized by France and Costa Rica, seeks to accelerate and mobilize efforts in the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans.
Since 2008, June 8 is World Ocean Day as designated by the United Nations General Assembly, with the aim of sensitizing institutions, public and private entities, together with general citizenship around the importance of caring for an ecosystem that produces 50 % of the oxygen of the planet and absorbs 30 % of the carbon dioxide that occurs on the earth.
According to the United Nations, oceans are intrinsic to our lives on earth. They cover three quarters of the earth’s surface, contain 97 % of the land of the Earth and represent 99 % of the vital space of the planet by volume.
They provide key natural resources such as food, medicines, biofuels and other products; They help decompose and eliminate waste and reduce pollution; and its coastal ecosystems contribute to reducing damage caused by storms.
They also constitute the largest carbon sink on the planet and regulate the global climate system. They absorb about 23% of annual CO2 emissions generated by human activity and contribute to mitigate the effects of climate change. In addition, they absorb 90% of excess heat caused by climate change.
They make up the world’s largest ecosystem, host almost one million known species and have enormous unknown scientific potential. Oceans and fishing continue to cover the economic, social and environmental needs of the world’s population. It is estimated that the maritime fishing sector employ 57 million people worldwide and constitutes the main source of protein of more than 50 % of the population of less developed countries.
About 80 % of tourism is concentrated in coastal areas. It is estimated that the maritime and coastal tourism industry generates $ 134,000 million a year and, in some countries, this industry already represents more than a third of the labor. If it is not managed in a responsible way, tourism can be a serious threat to the natural resources on which it depends, as well as for local culture and industry.
Alarming data
However, despite the fact that oceans are a life support for survival on Earth, the data is alarming. Marine pollution is reaching extreme levels. Plastic is the most harmful type of marine waste. At present, the average pH of the ocean is approximately 30 % more acidic than in the pre -industrial era. The acidification of the oceans threatens the survival of marine life, disturbs the food chain and undermines both the vital services provided by the oceans and our own food security.
Oceanic warming is reaching record levels, which causes generalized heat waves, threatens its rich ecosystems and destroys coral reefs around the world. Eello must be added that decades of irresponsible exploitation of resources have caused an alarming level of degradation.
The increase in waste levels in the oceans of the world also implies an important environmental and economic impact. It is estimated that every year they reach the seas and oceans between 5 and 12 million plastic metric tons, with an approximate cost of 13,000 million dollars annually, including cleaning costs and financial losses suffered by fishing and other industries. About 89 % of the plastic waste found at the bottom of the oceans are single -use items, such as plastic bags.
INJOGABLE SOURCE OF REVENABLE ENERGY
In this context, renewable energies are crucial to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change, which threatens oceans.
The ability of oceans to take advantage of the energy of the tides, waves, currents and thermal gradients offers significant potential for the production of clean and sustainable electricity. The decarbonization of maritime transport and the development of clean oceanic technologies are also crucial to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In the European sphere, energy companies seek to diversify their sources of renewable energy, including marine wind, as part of its strategy to increase its green energy generation capacity and cover the decarbonization needs marked in the long term on the 2050 horizon.
Also the strategic business plans, as in the case of Naturgy energy, recently presented, include increase the capacity for green energy generation at international level, including wind energy and battery projects for photovoltaic solar hybridization, looking for a more efficient control of the value chain and operational to improve efficiency in all renewable assets. Likewise, it includes investments in distribution networks and renewable energies, including marine wind.