Our oceans are in serious trouble. Plastic pollution, overfishing, and climate change are threatening marine life and ocean ecosystems. Experts, including David Attenborough, warn that what we’ve done to the deep ocean is ''unspeakably awful.'' The United Nations states that 50% of coral reefs are already gone due to rising temperatures, and 90% of big fish have disappeared because of overfishing.
Oceans are essential to life on Earth. They cover over 70% of the planet and produce half of our oxygen through tiny organisms like phytoplankton. They also regulate climate, provide food, and support countless species, many still undiscovered. Pollution, especially microplastics, is now entering the food chain through seafood. Changes in ocean currents can also lead to extreme weather events on land.
Fortunately, efforts are being made to protect the seas. At a recent UN conference, 18 new countries joined the High Seas Treaty, and goals were set to reduce plastic and nutrient pollution. While progress is being made, many argue we must act faster to preserve the ocean’s future.
Vocabulary:
• ecosystem (noun): a community of living things and their environment
• pollution (noun): harmful materials in the environment
• overfishing (noun): catching too many fish from the sea
• biodiversity (noun): variety of living organisms in a place
• microplastics (noun): tiny pieces of plastic found in nature
• phytoplankton (noun): tiny sea organisms that produce oxygen
• oxygen (noun): the gas we breathe to live
• conference (noun): a formal meeting or event
• treaty (noun): an agreement between countries
• marine (adjective): related to the sea
• sustainable (adjective): able to continue without harming the environment
• legacy (noun): something handed down from the past
• currents (noun): flowing movements of water in the sea
• nutrient (noun): substance that helps plants and animals grow
Source: Behind the News