Sylvia Earle is on a mission to protect 30% of the world's oceans.
We are beginning to grasp the magnitude of the decline of natural ocean systems and the consequences to ourselves. There is hope. There is evidence that protection works, but only 3% of the ocean is currently safeguarded.
Her organization Mission Blue creates "Hope Spots", new protected regions where declining wildlife can rebound. Over a decade after winning the TED Prize and launching Mission Blue, the number of "Hope Spots" has grown exponentially. Sylvia urges us to do more, and soon.
The current moment is the best chance we will ever have to turn from decline to recovery. We know better, can we do better?
Sylvia Earle is an American marine biologist, oceanographer, explorer, author, and lecturer. She has been a National Geographic Explorer at Large since 1998. Earle was the first female chief scientist of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and was named by Time Magazine as its first Hero for the Planet in 1998. She also founded Mission Blue, which aims to establish marine protected areas (dubbed "Hope Spots") around the globe. Mission Blue's vision is to achieve 30% protection of the ocean by 2030. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx