Ask oceanographer and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Dr Sylvia Earle what her favourite marine animal is and you will be surprised at her answer — humans.
“No oceans, no humans,” she explains when asked by three young interviewers Hilary, Tristan and Emma aged 8 to 11.
In this video to mark World Oceans Day, Dr Earle, 86, responds to a range of burning questions from the kids on the state of the oceans and more.
She was in Singapore recently to open a climate action exhibition “Change the Present. Save the Ocean.” organised by City Developments Limited, the National Parks Board and Ocean Geographic.
Celebrated annually on 8 June, World Oceans Day is a reminder that the oceans are the lungs of our Planet, a major source of food and medicine and a critical part of our biosphere.
They produce at least half of the planet’s oxygen, and it is estimated that 40 million people will be employed by ocean-based industries by 2030.
This year’s World Oceans Day is themed “Revitalisation: collective action for the ocean” — a year framed by the UN Decade of Ocean Science and the celebration of the United Nations Ocean Conference — two years after it was cancelled because of the pandemic.
The United Nations will also host the first hybrid celebration in-person at the UN Headquarters in New York which will also be broadcasted live.
Watch this video, and check out our full interview with Dr Sylvia Earle here.
