The Ocean, cryosphere, coasts, and rivers form interconnected systems vital to planetary health and human survival. The Ocean regulates climate by absorbing heat and carbon dioxide, produces over half the oxygen we breathe, and sustains global food security through fisheries. Its currents drive weather patterns and support biodiversity from coral reefs to deep-sea ecosystems.
The cryosphere—Earth’s frozen water in glaciers, ice caps, and permafrost—helps stabilize global temperatures by reflecting sunlight and storing freshwater. As it melts due to climate change, sea levels rise and weather extremes intensify, threatening communities worldwide.
Coasts are dynamic interfaces between land and sea, supporting rich ecosystems such as mangroves and salt marshes that protect shorelines from erosion and storm surges. They are also densely populated zones, critical to economies and cultures, yet increasingly vulnerable to climate impacts.
Rivers connect inland and marine systems, delivering nutrients and sediments that sustain wetlands, deltas, and coastal fisheries. They provide water for drinking, agriculture, and industry, but are under pressure from pollution, damming, and overuse.
Together, these systems are essential for life, yet face mounting threats from human activity and climate change. Their protection and restoration are critical for a resilient, sustainable future for both nature and people.
David Attenborough: Ocean
