2024 Ocean Health Key Statistics: The Urgent Need for Innovation

According to the UNESCO's 2024 Report on ocean health (https://lnkd.in/eKkrUUua) our Ocean is facing unprecedented challenges in 2024, with key statistics revealing the alarming state of marine ecosystems. At the Monaco Ocean Protection Challenge, we are doing our part by promoting innovation and fostering solutions that address these critical issues:

Rising Temperatures: Ocean temperatures have increased by 0.13°C per decade  causing coral bleaching and threatening marine biodiversity. Warmer waters not only disrupt coral ecosystems but also alter migration patterns and breeding cycles of marine species, pushing some toward extinction. For more information, read IUCN's article on Global Warming: https://iucn.org/resources/issues-brief/ocean-warming

Sea Level Rise: Global sea levels are rising by approximately 3.2 mm per year, putting coastal communities at risk of displacement. Additionally, rising sea levels threaten infrastructure, agriculture, and freshwater resources. Explore National Geographic's article on Rising Sea Levels: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/sea-level-rise-1

Overfishing: Around 35% of global fish stocks are being overexploited. This disrupts marine ecosystems, threatens species, and endangers biodiversity. The decline in fish populations also jeopardizes the livelihoods of millions of people, especially in coastal and developing regions. Check out 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮’s article about Fish and Overfishing: https://ourworldindata.org/fish-and-overfishing

Plastic Pollution: Over 11 million tons of plastic enter our Ocean every year. Microplastics are ingested by marine animals, leading to poisoning, malnutrition, and death. Larger debris entangles species like sea turtles, seabirds, and dolphins. Microplastics also impact human health through the seafood we consume. Read Ocean Conservancy's article on Plastic Pollution: https://oceanconservancy.org/trash-free-seas/plastics-in-the-ocean/

🌐 Students, professors, universities, and innovators - the Ocean is calling for your expertise and passion to develop innovative solutions that safeguard marine ecosystems for future generations. According to Protected Planet (https://www.protectedplanet.net/en), 8.35% of the Ocean is covered by marine protected areas.

Join us in the Monaco Ocean Protection Challenge and help us boost these numbers by sharing your idea and creating waves of impactful change! 

Website: https://www.monaco-opc.com/