How important are the oceans to the health of planet Earth?

Humanity's survival depends on the health of the oceans. More than half the world's population lives near them and they provide food and livelihoods
to countless millions. They drive our climate and weather, and absorb large amounts of our waste, including half of man-made carbon dioxide.

Why do we need to conserve water when there is so much in the ocean?

We can only safely drink distilled or desalinated ocean water - and our crops and livestock need freshwater too - but the time and resources needed to desalinate oceans would cost very much more than pumping freshwater out of the ground or using surface water such as streams and rivers.

Are offshore wind parks harmful to oceans and marine life?

Such wind parks offer a clean source of energy and pose a low risk to the marine environment. The riskiest time is during construction and decommissioning - but even these take not more than six months. Judging from existing parks, there is no evidence to suggest that they have a detrimental impact on marine life.

What can people who live inland do to help keep oceans clean?

We must recognize the life-sustaining role of oceans, even if we live thousands of kilometres inland. The United Nations has set aside 8 June as World Ocean Day - a day to organize activities to raise awareness about this. You may wish to get involved in clean-ups, painting competitions, round-table discussions - anything to demonstrate the importance of oceans to our lives and the devastating impacts of pollution on the marine environment.

How do oceans contribute to economic growth? How do we make sure that this growth is sustainable?

Real economic growth is the ability to produce goods and services that improve the well-being of people and the planet. We use the oceans for sustenance, energy and mineral resources, transport and recreation. The sustainability of these life-enhancing activities depends on the care we take to protect and conserve the seas and coastal areas.

Is it possible to predict upcoming tsunamis and alert coastal communities?

Yes: we already have some sensors on the seabed and the ocean surface to detect earthquakes; however, their organization and coordination needs to be improved. The United Nations is working closely with its agencies and with governments to create a global early-warning system designed to detect tsunamis and inform communities at risk.

Is it realistic to think of oceans
as the solution to our future energy needs?

We must ask ourselves what we will do when there is no longer enough oil, gas and coal. We know we can extract energy from the oceans, but we should be careful not to damage their health and ecosystems. With more research and development, our oceans could become a reliable, affordable and environmentally sound energy service and resource.