Ocean Blues or a Bright Blue Future

The authors contend that the ocean is a critical but overlooked factor in global health, security, and economic stability. They highlight how climate change drives systemic risks—including sea-level rise, extreme weather, and collapsing fisheries—while asserting that sustainable ocean-based industries like offshore wind and seaweed harvesting can facilitate a transition to a cleaner economy. The text calls for multilateral collaboration and science-based management to ensure the resilience of marine ecosystems and human populations.

• Climate change creates systemic risks through the ocean, increasing the frequency of extreme weather, rising sea levels, and melting sea ice, which in turn displace populations and infrastructure and heighten the likelihood of state failure, conflict, and humanitarian disasters.
• The ocean offers potential solutions for decarbonization and economic resilience through the development of the blue economy, specifically via newer industries such as offshore wind and seaweed harvesting, which can create jobs and reduce reliance on carbon-intensive products.
• Ocean health is directly linked to human health and security, with climate change increasing the risk of waterborne viruses, bacteria, and toxin release from harmful algal blooms.
• Effective management of ocean resources requires a shift toward science-based, multilateral collaboration and increased investment in ocean science and technology to provide the predictability needed to forecast threats and manage resources sustainably.

APA

White, J., & Leahy, A. (2020). Ocean Blues or a Bright Blue Future. The Council on Strategic Risks. https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2020/09/16/ocean-blues-or-a-bright-blue-future/

Chicago

White, Jonathan, and Annabelle Leahy. Ocean Blues or a Bright Blue Future. The Council on Strategic Risks, 2020. https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2020/09/16/ocean-blues-or-a-bright-blue-future/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=White |first1=Jonathan |last2=Leahy |first2=Annabelle |title=Ocean Blues or a Bright Blue Future |publisher=The Council on Strategic Risks |date=16 September 2020 |url=https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2020/09/16/ocean-blues-or-a-bright-blue-future/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{white2020ocean, author = {White, Jonathan and Leahy, Annabelle}, title = {{Ocean Blues or a Bright Blue Future}}, publisher = {The Council on Strategic Risks}, year = {2020}, month = sep, url = {https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2020/09/16/ocean-blues-or-a-bright-blue-future/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }