Dossier

The Ocean Atlas

Meereskrise - was kann die Politik tun? - Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung

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Territorially speaking, the high seas belong to no one – and so when it comes to exploitation, they belong to everyone.

Mankind and the Seas

The ocean covers more than two-thirds of our planet's surface. It is rich in resources and provides us with food, energy, and minerals. Oceans are important transportation routes and crucial for the stability of our climate and the weather. But due to overfishing, the loss of biodiversity, and ocean pollution, the future of this unique ecosystem faces a grave threat today.

This is where the atlas comes into play. It illustrates the important role played by the ocean and its ecosystems – not only for people living on the coasts but for all of us. It aims to give a current insight of the state and the threat of the seas, that are our livelihoods. Therefore we hope to stimulate a broader social and political discussion about the meaning of the ocean as an important system and the possibilities for protecting it.

Ocean Atlas

Facts and figures on the threats to our marine ecosystems

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Resources, fish population and energy: how we are exploiting the seas
The ocean – a fragile ecosystem
Climate Change: Rising Sea Levels and Temperatures

Booming cruise tourism: while the number of visitors increases rapidly, the number of desired destinations does not. In 1980, 1.4 million people went on cruises; in 2016 it was already 24 million passengers.
Ocean Governance: Towards Protecting a Common Good
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Soil Atlas: Facts and figures about earth, land and fields

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Through misuse, we lose 24 billion tonnes of fertile soil every year. For the International Year of Soils in 2015, this Atlas shows, why the soil should concern us all. Jointly published by the Heinrich Böll Foundation and the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies.