Recast the ocean as a solution to climate change

Often, conservation can be framed as an altruistic pursuit– an effort to save the species on our planet for their intrinsic value to Earth and its people. However, in addition to such motivations, with the knowledge of our ocean’s invaluable services to our planet, an investment in conservation doesn’t just make sense to the heart but undoubtedly to the head, as well. Conquering climate change from a vantage point that recognizes the return on investment our ocean delivers serves wedge six of the Rebuilding Marine Life Roadmap: recast the ocean as a solution.

In one application, our ocean naturally acts as a carbon sink– capturing over a quarter of the total CO2 released into the atmosphere. Its ability to do so relies on the photosynthetic organisms, like seagrass, that lie beneath the waves. The seagrass species alone effectively captures and stores around 10% of all carbon seized by the ocean, in addition to its contributions to biodiversity. By protecting and investing in seagrass, we not only safeguard marine species but utilize it in our fight against climate change as the ecological juggernaut that it is.

As temperatures climb, sea levels rise, storms arise more frequently, and carbon collects in our atmosphere, humanity continues to explore viable responses that minimize the anticipated damage. When we look to the sea, some may recognize only its martyrdom, glossing over the interactions that have kept planet Earth living for thousands of years. Instead, as we recast the ocean as a solution, we find that investment in conservation rewards our planet in powerful ways.