Ocean advocate Sylvia Earle and explorer Fabien Cousteau have joined forces to announce the upcoming release of the World Ocean Assessment, described at an event as “likely the most important book ever written about the ocean.” The 1,600-page assessment, set to launch on June 8th, World Oceans Day, is the culmination of over five years of work by 550 experts from 86 countries. The report offers a comprehensive overview of the mounting pressures on the ocean and the actions required to protect it.
Speaking at the event, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Legal Affairs, Steven Hill, emphasized that the assessment “reinforces a very clear message: that science is indispensable.” Hill stated that the report provides a foundation for “understanding the profound changes underway, from climate-driven shifts to biodiversity loss, and for shaping effective actions at both local and global levels.”
What We Still Don’t Know
Despite decades of progress, vast areas of the ocean, particularly the deep sea, remain poorly understood. Renowned oceanographer Sylvia Earle cautioned that the report also highlights the scale of work yet to be done. “There’s one more thing to do, and it will take many volumes: the magnitude of what we still don’t know,” Earle said. Quoting Mark Twain, she noted, “It isn’t the things we don’t know that get us into trouble. It’s the things we know that aren’t so.” Earle added that while scientists know far more than previous generations, they must remain aware of the extent of the unknown. “We should not be too ambitious in thinking we have all the right answers,” she concluded.
Knowledge Alone Is Not Enough
“Knowledge alone is not enough,” stated Hill. “We are at a moment when ocean ecosystems are approaching critical tipping points, and our choices, based on the best available science, will determine the future of the ocean and the benefits it can provide.” Hill also stressed the need for knowledge to be inclusive, bringing together disciplines, regions, and diverse perspectives, including Indigenous Peoples and local communities. Fabien Cousteau, grandson of the legendary ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau and an ocean advocate, remarked in a speech to The Explorers Club, “Ultimately, we are all one community, and we must all row in the same direction… the only way to get out of this is to act together.” The Deputy Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to the UN and Ambassador, Bahia Tahzib-Lie, said the assessment “provides a strong roadmap for action through global cooperation and multilateralism.” As one of the co-chairs of the assessment, she highlighted that this landmark report may be the most comprehensive and insightful evaluation of the ocean to date.
