Big Blue needs more green

Oceanography legend champions conservation

The world's oceans cover nearly three quarters of our planet, yet less than 1% of the blue stuff is protected compared to about 12% of the land. That’s something that has to change, and fast, according to a call from one of the world’s leading oceanographers.

Dr. Sylvia Earle has been described as a ‘living legend’ by the Library of Congress, ‘Her deepness’ by the New Yorker and ‘a hero for the planet’ by Time magazine. She has led more than 60 expeditions worldwide, spent more than 7,000 hours underwater, holds a depth record for diving and has won more than 22 awards and 10 honorary degrees. It’s fair to say she knows a thing or two about the sea.

She’s now using her latest award (the prestigious TED prize) to launch a campaign urging world leaders to do much more to protect the ocean. By writing individual letters to over 100 of them Dr. Earle hopes she can persuade them to step up and promise action.

“The bottom line to the world leaders is that we must take care of the ocean,” she says. “No blue – no green, no ocean – no life... Our lives are dependent on taking care of the natural world – and most of it is blue.”

She’ll also be holding them to account – their progress, or any lack of it, will be highlighted at a special conference to be held on a ship in the Galapagos Islands next April.

You can watch exclusive footage of Dr. Earle signing the letters and talking more about the project at the Underwater Channel