Background

The earth and its countless inhabitants of all forms, shapes, and sizes have been heading closer to a juncture where the perils of climate change are irreversible at an increasing pace over the last few years. In July 2023, the world was alarmed by the announcement of a great disruption whose repercussions seemed beyond immediate comprehension: “The era of global boiling has arrived” declared the UN Secretary-General António Guterres. It is not a matter of debate that combating climate change is the need of the hour, and one must not overlook the degeneration and destruction of marine ecosystems – marine habitats, after all, cover more than 70 percent of the planet. Within climate action strategies and efforts, marine conservation thus becomes an avenue where urgent productive interventions must be made, and this is the driving force that propels OCA. 

Across the globe, global warming has been adversely affecting marine ecosystems at an unprecedented rate, and the disconcerting repercussions of rising temperatures on marine ecosystems are irreversible. Approximately sixty percent of the world’s marine ecosystems are being used unsustainably or have already been degraded due to a 1.1℃ rise in temperature levels today, and a potential increase in the warming rates to 1.5℃ will destroy 70 to 90% of the coral reefs (United Nations Environment Programme). An eventual increase in global temperature levels by 2℃ entails arriving at a point of no return – all marine habits will fall apart and lead to the collapse of the foundational balance of the planet (United Nations Environment Programme). The consequences of climate change on marine ecosystems are endless and it is easy to overlook how indispensable marine habitats are for the survival and sustenance of humanity. To fight the global climate crisis, it is imperative to raise awareness and actively work towards marine conservation. 

A holistic conservation approach is a key to ameliorating the fissures and distress that overshadow climate action efforts today, and OCA is a humble effort to change the global landscape through multi-modal interventions in both the theoretical and practical fronts of mitigating the global climate crisis.