A global study by Economist Impact and The Nippon Foundation, Back to Blue, revealed that young people do not understand the danger the ocean is in nor how a threatened ocean means a threatened planet.
According to the study, a large majority of young people are concerned about the ocean’s health and believe it can protect us from climate change, yet they place a higher priority on protecting forests, tackling air pollution and freshwater scarcity.
Results from the 3,500 respondents in 35 countries found that 75% of 18-24 year olds are concerned about the state of ocean health. But almost half (47%) think the ocean is still healthy. The Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and The Philippines are among some of the top countries that believe this, when each is struggling with plastic pollution, coral reef degradation and habitat loss.
It strongly indicates that young people do not fully fathom the dire conditions of the oceans. This is also evident in the fact that 50% of young people do not understand how the ocean impacts them and how they, in turn, impact the ocean. Furthermore, 61% prioritize other climate issues, such as deforestation, over ocean conservation. Notably, this perspective is shared by 88% of young people in Panama—a country bordered by both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, where the ocean plays a vital role in the economy.
“It is surprising and alarming to see so many young people misjudge the ocean’s health,” Peter Thomson, UN Ocean Envoy said. “This level of low ocean literacy risks hindering progress and funding for protecting our oceans. We must invest in educating young people about the importance of ocean health and how to safeguard it for the future.“
Limited comprehension of the oceans’ endangered state was also accompanied by little demand amongst young people for significant action or accountability from ocean stakeholders. Young people are significantly concerned about contaminating the ocean – chemical pollution (48%) and plastic pollution (50%) yet they do not know where responsibility lies. The study found that less than half (46%) of young people want government action that will ensure the oceans health, and only 17% want to see corporations and businesses take increased responsibility.
“The ocean is one of the most overlooked and underfunded areas in global sustainability, yet its decline directly impacts how we live,” Thomson said. “We must remember that the ocean is silently dealing with sea level rise, soaring temperatures and acidity levels as well as irreversible threats to biodiversity because of human activity. The least we can do is understand it better and make it a priority to save.”
Educators and policymakers have a unique opportunity to address the low levels of ocean literacy among young people. By incorporating ocean literacy into school curriculums—and with greater support from governments—they can equip the next generation with the knowledge and tools needed to protect our oceans and address the challenges they face.
“Given its roots in formal education, many ocean literacy initiatives are grounded in the importance of raising awareness and knowledge about ocean issues,” said Emma McKinley, Ocean Literacy expert and Senior Research Fellow at Cardiff University. “Looking to the future, we must embrace diverse types of ocean knowledge and relationships to deliver ocean literacy as a societal outcome. If the ocean and the issues facing it were included more widely in education systems across the world, the more positive change we would see. Knowledge is one of our most powerful tools.”
