The Deep Ocean Is a Global Public Good
14 days ago
- #sustainability
- #regeneration
- #deep-ocean
- Humans are drawn to distant, luminous objects like stars but often ignore the mysterious and vital deep ocean.
- The deep ocean is Earth's largest biome, older than forests, and more pressurized than any mine, yet remains largely unexplored.
- Deep ocean ecosystems regulate Earth's climate, store carbon, cycle nutrients, and absorb 90% of heat, making them crucial for planetary health.
- Human activities like deep-sea trawling and oil drilling threaten these ecosystems, despite their importance to climate and biodiversity.
- Scientists and policymakers advocate for deep ocean regeneration, moving beyond conservation to repair and reciprocity.
- The Deep Blue Initiative promotes sustainable exploration, focusing on marine biotechnology, deep ocean energy, and marine CO₂ removal.
- Marine biotechnology leverages deep-sea microbes for enzymes that can withstand extreme conditions and break down pollutants.
- Deep ocean energy, like geothermal and hydrogen sources, offers low-emission alternatives to fossil fuels.
- Marine CO₂ removal techniques, such as alkalinity enhancement, could help rebalance the carbon cycle.
- New financial mechanisms, like the Nature Capital Fund and FOAK Project Finance, support long-term, ethical deep ocean research and innovation.
- The deep ocean is not a resource to exploit but a vital system requiring stewardship, curiosity, and sustainable governance.