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A Blue Carbon Primer: The State of Coastal Wetland Carbon Science, Practice and Policy (CRC Marine Science)
by Lisamarie Windham-Myers Stephen Crooks Tiffany G. TroxlerKey features: Captures the historic context and recent developments in science and policy arenas that address the potential for coastal wetlands to be considered as significant contributors to carbon sequestration Links multiple levels of science (biogeochemistry, geomorphology, paleoclimate, etc.) with blue carbon concepts (science, policy, mapping, operationalization, economics) in a single compendium Concludes with a discussion of future directions which covers integrated scientific approaches, impending threats and specific gaps in current knowledge Includes 7 case studies from across the globe that demonstrate the benefits and challenges of blue carbon accounting Written by over 100 leading global blue carbon experts in science and policy. Blue Carbon has emerged as a term that represents the distinctive carbon stocks and fluxes into or out of coastal wetlands such as marshes, mangroves, and seagrasses. The Blue Carbon concept has rapidly developed in science literature and is highly relevant politically, as nations and markets are developing blue carbon monitoring and management tools and policies. This book is a comprehensive and current compendium of the state of the science, the state of maps and mapping protocols, and the state of policy incentives (including economic valuation of blue carbon), with additional sections on operationalizing blue carbon projects and 7 case studies with global relevance.
The Blue Commons: Rescuing the Economy of the Sea (Pelican Books)
by Guy StandingA FINANCIAL TIMES BEST ECONOMICS BOOK OF 2022 'A landmark book... The Blue Commons is at once a brilliant synthesis, a searing analysis, and an inspiring call to action.' - David Bollier'With remarkable erudition, passion and lyricism, Guy Standing commands the reader to wake up to the threat posed by rentier capitalism's violent policies for extraction, exploitation and depletion of that which is both common to us all, but also vital to our survival: the sea and all within it.' - Ann Pettifor 'Shines a bright light on the economy of the oceans, directing us brilliantly towards where a sustainable future lies.' - Danny Dorling'This is a powerful, visionary book - essential reading for all who yearn for a better world.' - Jason HickelThe sea provides more than half the oxygen we breathe, food for billions of people and livelihoods for hundreds of millions. But giant corporations are plundering the world's oceans, aided by global finance and complicit states, following the neoliberal maxim of Blue Growth. The situation is dire: rampant exploitation and corruption now drive all aspects of the ocean economy, destroying communities, intensifying inequalities, and driving fish populations and other ocean life towards extinction.The Blue Commons is an urgent call for change, from a campaigning economist responsible for some of the most innovative solutions to inequality of recent times. From large nations bullying smaller nations into giving up eco-friendly fishing policies to the profiteering by the Crown Estate in commandeering much of the British seabed, the scale of the global problem is synthesised here for the first time, as well as a toolkit for all of us to rise up and tackle it.The oceans have been left out of calls for a Green New Deal but must be at the centre of the fight against climate change. How do we do it? By building a Blue Commons alternative: a transformative worldview and new set of proposals that prioritise the historic rights of local communities, the wellbeing of all people and, with it, the health of our oceans.
Blue Covenant: The Global Water Crisis and the Coming Battle for the Right to Water
by Maude BarlowA cautionary account of climate change and the global water supply. &“You will not turn on the tap in the same way after reading this book.&” —Robert Redford In a book hailed by Publishers Weekly as a &“passionate plea for access-to-water activism,&” Blue Covenant addresses an environmental crisis that—together with global warming—poses one of the gravest threats to our survival. How did the world&’s most vital resource become imperiled? And what must we do to pull back from the brink? In &“stark and nearly devastating prose&”, world-renowned activist and bestselling author Maude Barlow—who is featured in the acclaimed documentary Flow—discusses the state of the world&’s water. Barlow examines how water companies are reaping vast profits from declining supplies, and how ordinary people from around the world have banded together to reclaim the public&’s right to clean water, creating a grassroots global water justice movement. While tracing the history of international battles for the right to water, she documents the life-and-death stakes involved in the fight and lays out the actions that we as global citizens must take to secure a water-just world for all (Booklist). &“Sounds the water alarm with conviction and authority.&” —Kirkus Reviews &“This book proves that water deserves another destiny.&” —Eduardo Galeano &“Blue Covenant will inspire civil society movements around the world.&” —Vandana Shiva
Blue Ecocriticism and the Oceanic Imperative (Routledge Environmental Humanities)
by Sidney I. DobrinThis book initiates a conversation about blue ecocriticism: critical, ethical, cultural, and political positions that emerge from oceanic or aquatic frames of mind rather than traditional land-based approaches. Ecocriticism has rapidly become not only a disciplinary legitimate critical form but also one of the most dynamic, active criticisms to emerge in recent times. However, even in its institutional success, ecocriticism has exemplified an "ocean deficit." That is, ecocriticism has thus far primarily been a land-based criticism stranded on a liquid planet. Blue Ecocriticism and the Oceanic Imperative contributes to efforts to overcome ecocriticism’s "ocean-deficit." The chapters explore a vast archive of oceanic literature, visual art, television and film, games, theory, and criticism. By examining the relationships between these representations of ocean and cultural imaginaries, Blue Ecocriticism works to unmoor ecocriticism from its land-based anchors. This book aims to simultaneously advance blue ecocriticism as an intellectual pursuit within the environmental humanities and to advocate for ocean conservation as derivative of that pursuit.
The Blue Economy: An Asian Perspective
by Somnath Hazra Anindya BhuktaThis volume defines and analyzes the Blue Economy, a system that encompasses all the economic activities which are happening in and around the ocean within a sustainable development framework, with focus on countries in Asia. This work is timely, as Blue Economy activities account for a significant share of GDPs in the island and coastal economies in the Asia region, sustaining the livelihoods of one of the largest sections of the world's population. This book, therefore, assesses how the Blue Economy contributes to these livelihoods from economic and ecological perspectives and analyzes the various types of ecosystem services provided, and how these services are regulated and maintained. While most studies of the Blue Economy focus only on the economic aspects, this book provides ample statistical data to demonstrate why ecosystem services should additionally be considered for the estimation and valuation of the Blue economy. The book is primarily meant for researchers, students, and teachers in the fields of environmental and ocean economics, sustainable development, and ecosystem services, and will be of further interest to policymakers and government officials working in matters related to the Blue Economy and sustainability policy.
Blue Economy: People and Regions in Transitions (The Dynamics of Economic Space)
by C. Patrick Heidkamp John Edward Morrissey Celine Germond-DuretThis book presents state-of-the-art perspectives on the Blue Economy. It applies important geographical and sustainability transitions perspectives and underscores how Blue Economy dynamics are situated in regional contexts and shaped by the people who live there. The book highlights the Blue Economy concept as a potential driver of regionally sensitive, ecologically embedded, and community-focused sustainability. The scope for Blue Economy to form a core "cog" in our low-carbon future is obvious, from the potential for renewable energy production and coastal resilience building to possibilities for sustainable food production and the delivery of economic opportunities for peripheral communities. However, fundamental questions remain on how to meaningfully deliver these promises, such as how to avoid embedding a model of damaging extractivism, as per the terrestrial economy, and how to deliver on the key social sustainability principles of human well-being, equity, and justice when planning and developing blue economies. As the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development opens, this book provides a timely reminder of the richness, diversity, and potential of coastal and marine spaces. It advances geographical and transdisciplinary understandings of the Blue Economy and sets a baseline for continued scholarly engagement with the Blue Economy from a variety of perspectives. This timely contribution will be of interest to policy makers, academics, industry leaders, decision makers, and stakeholders working in or connected to the Blue Economy Sphere and working in the fields of Economic Geography, Regional Development, Public Policy and Planning, Environmental Studies, and Coastal Zone Management.
Blue Economy: An Ocean Science Perspective
by Edward R. Urban Jr. Venugopalan IttekkotThe ocean is a major source of income for many coastal nations, particularly in the developing world. Economic benefits from the ocean in the long-term depend on its wise science and technology-based management. The intersection of science, technology, and economy are most obvious in nations' coastal zones. This book highlights the need for the application of ocean science and technology for best economic outcomes. It gives examples of ocean resources and the threats to them from climate change and other human interventions, as well as provides information on the available ocean research and observation tools to monitor their impact as well as on the related internationally available opportunities for capacity development.
Blue Economy and Smart Sea Transport Systems: Maritime Security (SpringerBriefs in Geography)
by Girish Chandrakant Gujar Adolf K. NgFocusing on maritime security, this book discusses Blue Economy and Smart sea transport systems in the context of the Indian Ocean rim countries and the multifaceted challenges that they are likely to face while attempting to develop such systems. It introduces Blue Economy as a concept with an emphasis on lower costs, reduced waste, greater efficiency, and value addition in all services associated with the near and deep oceans, with the establishment of Smart sea transport systems as the adaptive response in a global trade system. It highlights the roles of maritime security in politics, economics, and environmental management issues that constitute the challenges of achieving such goals. In this regard, the authors approach the issues from the institutional perspective to examine ways in which relevant transport and supply chain stakeholders can collaborate to build secure, resilient global systems of maritime trade. This book will be of interest to anyone interested in marine policy and global supply chains, especially in maritime security, its impacts and risks on transport and supply chain infrastructures, and the related socioeconomic activities likely to be affected. Readers will gain insight into the effective ways to adapt to such risks and how to benefit from the generated opportunities on transport, supply chains, and the global economy. Also, it is an ideal companion to policymakers and practitioners who are eager to learn about the dynamics between maritime security and Blue Economy which, in turn, enhances the quality of strategic planning, policies, and practices in addressing these issues. Finally, it inspires researchers and postgraduate students to conduct innovative research on this topic.
Blue Economy in Indian Sundarbans: Exploring Livelihood Opportunities
by Abhijit Mitra Sufia Zaman Prosenjit PramanickThis book provides a cross-sectoral, multidisciplinary assessment of the major verticals of Blue Economy relevant to the mangrove ecosystem in Indian Sundarbans, which is a deltaic complex at the apex of Bay of Bengal. This book evaluates the feasibility of Blue Economy considering the natural resource base in this mangrove dominated deltaic complex.Chapter 1 discusses the need of expanding different marine and estuarine oriented verticals of Blue Economy as the land resources are gradually becoming depleted. Chapter 2 highlights the wide spectrum of biotic and abiotic resources of the Indian Sundarbans which can serve as the strong foundation of expanding Blue Economy in the region. Chapter 3 highlights several mangrove based livelihoods that are not only innovative, but may present new opportunities to initiate cottage industries. Chapter 4 highlights the threats associated with Blue Economy in Indian Sundarbans like, sea level rise, acidification of water, weather extremes, pollution, over-exploitation of natural resources, etc., along with ground-zero environmental data collated over three decades. Chapter 5 offers several solutions to combat the threats to regional Blue Economy emphasizing both technology and policy based management. The book attempts to align the proliferation of different sectors of Blue Economy in the framework of Indian Sundarbans.
Blue Economy of the Indian Ocean: Resource Economics, Strategic Vision, and Ethical Governance
by Ranadhir Mukhopadhyay Victor J. Loveson Sridhar D. Iyer P.K. SudarsanThe economic paradigms currently dominating the world are not sustainable. The threats from climate change, exploitation-based approaches to commerce, and the excess acquisition of resources loom large as well as the possibility of military flare-ups. Maintaining a balance between development and ecosystems, aspirations for growth, and the need for sustainability is a prescient challenge. The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) encompasses some of the poorest countries in the world and those that will bear the brunt of the negative impacts from climate change. This book explores the immense potential of the IOR and how best to maintain sustainable and responsible economic and strategic activities. The combination of science, innovation, and entrepreneurship will create a new blue economy business model, which has the potential to transform society. Based on critical analysis of the model and its practical applications, including risks as well as opportunities, the topics discussed range from food security, energy, and resilience to climate change, trade and investments, and improved maritime connectivity to tourism, poverty alleviation, and socioeconomic growth, encompassing a wide range of interests and expertise. FEATURES Examines the geo-politics, geo-resources, and geo-hazards of the IOR and identifies opportunities and methods to achieve success Covers a detailed assessment of available resources (fisheries, minerals, energy), threats such as pollution (plastic, acoustic, carbon, bio-invasion), geo-politics (maritime security, military invasion), and strategic vision (determining carrying capacity, ethical governance, and responsible ecosystem) of the Indian Ocean Analyzes the economics of the blue economy, the global scenario including the Pacific and Caribbean islands, and the aspect of the Chinese geo-political invasion in the Indian Ocean Inspires entrepreneurs to adopt new ways of creating economic benefits, reducing energy use, and increasing revenue while simultaneously helping the communities involved Discusses the threat and security perspectives of the IOR and the collective responsibility for a sustainable use of resources Crossing a wide range of interests and expertise, this book explores topics and ideas that will be essential to researchers and professionals in marine sciences, economics, business, geography, and political sciences. Graduate students in the same fields as well as any and all organizations that maintain a presence in the IOR will likewise find this book to be a valuable resource.
Blue Flag Beaches: Economic Growth, Tourism and Sustainable Management (Earthscan Studies in Natural Resource Management)
by María A. Prats Fernando MerinoThis book presents a comprehensive study of the role that the Blue Flag beach program has played around the world, considering economic, social and environmental perspectives. Since its creation in the 1980s, The Blue Flag program awards the management of beaches and marinas based on sustainability, services and quality of their management. To date there are currently close to five thousand awards around the world. Forty years on from the program's creation, this book provides a thorough evaluation of the program, to understand how it has evolved over time, the successes it has enjoyed and the challenges it has overcome, and may face in the future. As an international program, this book reflects the global nature of this program and actively discusses, examines and assesses the different realities and challenges faced by different countries around the world, drawing on case studies from across Europe, North America, Latin America, Africa and Asia. It examines the impact of the award on economic growth, from local to national, environmental protection and education, the development of sustainable tourism, and the sustainable management of beaches. The volume also contributes to emerging debates surrounding the certification of natural resources, where the Blue Flag program has been a pioneer in this field. This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of sustainable tourism, environmental economics, coastal and beach management, environmental conservation and sustainable development.
Blue Frontier: Saving America’s Living Seas
by David HelvargA fascinating account of America's oceans and ocean politics, Blue Frontier explores the impact of history, commerce and policy on marine life and by extension all life on earth. From the legacy of Navy-funded ocean research and development since World War II to the latest controversies surrounding beach closures, collapsing fish stocks, killer algae, hurricanes, and oil spills, Blue Frontier takes readers on an adventure-filled tour of America's last great wilderness range.
Blue Future: Protecting Water for People and the Planet Forever
by Maude BarlowSelected for The Globe 100 Books in 2013. The final book in Maude Barlow’s Blue trilogy, Blue Future is a powerful, penetrating, and timely look at the global water crisis — and what we can do to prevent it. The global water crisis has dramatically deepened. The stage is being set for drought on an unprecedented scale, mass starvation, and the migration of millions of refugees leaving parched lands in search of water. The story does not need to end in tragedy. In Blue Future, international bestselling author Maude Barlow offers solutions to the global water crisis based on four simple principles. Principle One: Water Is a Human Right chronicles the long fight to have the human right to water recognized and the powerful players still impeding this progress. Principle Two: Water Is a Common Heritage and Public Trust argues that water must not become a commodity to be bought and sold on the open market. Principle Three: Water Has Rights Too makes the case for the protection of source water and the need to make our human laws compatible with those of nature. Principle Four: Water Will Teach Us How to Live Together urges us to come together around a common threat — the end of water — and find a way to live more lightly on this planet. The final instalment in Barlow’s Blue trilogy, Blue Future includes inspiring stories of struggle and resistance from marginalized communities, as well as examples of government policies that work for people and the planet. A call to action to create a water-secure world, it is, in the end, a book of hope.
Blue Future: Protecting Water for People and the Planet Forever
by Maude BarlowWater is a human right: &“A rousing case for what will be one of the key environmental challenges of the twenty-first century.&” —Booklist The United Nations has recognized access to water as a basic human right—but there is still much work to be done to stem this growing environmental crisis. In this book, water activist Maude Barlow draws on her extensive experience to lay out a set of key principles that show the way forward to what she calls a &“water-secure and water-just world.&” Not only does she reveal the powerful players even now impeding the recognition of the human right to water, she argues that water must not become a commodity to be bought and sold on the open market. Focusing on solutions, she includes stories of struggle and resistance from marginalized communities, as well as government policies that work for both people and the planet. At a time when climate change has moved to the top of the national agenda and the stage is being set for unprecedented drought, mass starvation, and the migration of millions of refugees in search of water, Blue Future is an urgent call to preserve our most valuable resource for generations to come. &“In a book as clear as a pristine mountain stream, Maude Barlow lays out a practical and inspiring vision for how we can defend water—the source of all life—from the forces of death.&” —Naomi Klein, author of The Shock Doctrine
Blue Genes: Sharing and Conserving the World's Aquatic Biodiversity
by Brian HarveyThe advance of genetic sciences has led to a 'blue revolution' in the way we use aquatic biodiversity. By 2020, the world will be eating almost as much farmed as wild fish, marine bacteria could yield the cure for cancer and deep-sea bacteria may be exploited to gobble up oil spills. Science is moving ahead at a staggering speed, and the demand for genetic resources is growing rapidly - yet governance and policy lag far behind. This groundbreaking work is the first to look at the ownership, governance and trade in aquatic genetic resources. Blue Genes describes the growing demand for aquatic genetic resources and the desperate need to fill the policy vacuum about the management and conservation of aquatic biodiversity, which would help create a foundation for rules dictating access to, and use of, aquatic genetic resources. Special attention is paid to indigenous and local people having the right to access these resources and their role in managing and conserving aquatic biodiversity. The book concludes with policy recommendations specifically tailored to aquatic resources, with the use of six case studies from four continents to illustrate key issues.
Blue Gold: The Fight to Stop the Corporate Theft of the World's Water
by Maude Barlow Tony Clarke&“Probably the most eloquent call to arms we&’re likely to hear about the politics of water&” (The Globe and Mail, Toronto). In this &“chilling, in-depth examination of a rapidly emerging global crisis,&” Maude Barlow and Tony Clarke, two of the most active opponents to the privatization of water show how, contrary to received wisdom, water mainly flows uphill to the wealthy (In These Times). Our most basic resource may one day be limited: Our consumption doubles every twenty years—twice the rate of population increase. At the same time, increasingly transnational corporations are plotting to control the world&’s dwindling water supply. In England and France, where water has already been privatized, rates have soared, and water shortages have been severe. The major bottled-water producers—Perrier, Evian, Naya, and now Coca-Cola and PepsiCo—are part of one of the fastest-growing and least-regulated industries, buying up freshwater rights and drying up crucial supplies. A truly shocking exposé, Blue Gold shows in frightening detail why, as the vice president of the World Bank has pronounced, &“The wars of the next century will be about water.&” &“Maude Barlow and Tony Clarke combine visionary intellect with muckraking research and a concrete plan for action.&” —Naomi Klein, author of The Battle for Paradise &“A sobering, in-depth look at the growing scarcity of fresh water and the increasing privatization and corporate control of this nonrenewable resource.&” —Library Journal &“An angry and persuasive account.&” —Bloomberg Businessweek &“The dire scenarios laid out in this comprehensive book are truly frightening.&” —The San Diego Union-Tribune
Blue-Green Infrastructure for Sustainable Urban Settlements: Implications for Developing Countries Under Climate Change
by P. K. Joshi K. S. Rao Rahul Bhadouria Sachchidanand Tripathi Rishikesh SinghBlue-Green Infrastructure (BGI) is now recognized as beneficial in terms of maintaining water flows and thermal comfort in urban areas. A framework of ecosystem services for urban settlements may be instrumental in bio-physical benefits as well as social and psychological benefits that will be assisting in adaptation and mitigating adverse effects of changing climate. Cities in developing countries, where the land cover is undergoing rapid transition, are characterized primarily by urban characteristics at the expense of natural ecosystems. The book aims to provide a state of the art of Urban Resilience and Sustainability linked to blue-green components of the urban environment. The challenges and opportunities in adopting the blue-greens as next generation infrastructure, particularly in the context of rampant urbanization and changing climate are also one of the focal areas of the book. The book also deals with multilevel community and stakeholders’ participation in developing and managing Blue-Green Infrastructure in urban centres of developing countries. Currently, the focus of researches in urban ecosystem is moving towards exploring the role of blue-green components in ameliorating the negative consequences of urbanization and changing climate. This book bridges the knowledge gap between the existing understating of the role of blue and green infrastructure separately and in integration in city planning, particularly in mitigating and adapting to changing climate and environmental pollution.
Blue Infrastructures: Natural History, Political Ecology and Urban Development in Kolkata (Exploring Urban Change in South Asia)
by Jenia MukherjeeThis book focuses on Kolkata, formerly the colonial capital of and currently a major megacity in India, in terms of its extensive blue infrastructures, i.e., its rivers, canals and wetlands as an integrated composite whole. It unfolds ways in which this reclaimed urban space could determine, and in turn, could get determined by political fate, economic calculations and social livelihoods across changing political-economic imperatives and with large-scale implications on urban sustainability. Employing historical urban political ecology (HUPE) as the methodological framework by combining urban environmental history and urban political ecology, the book studies the changing urban environmental equations through several centuries, and its impact on the city and its people. Weaving the past, present and posterity of deltaic Kolkata, the book demonstrates that it is in these ‘blue infrastructures’ that the anecdote of origin, the account of functioning and the apprehension of survival of the city is rooted. By emphasizing the ecology ‘of’ cities instead of ecology ‘in’ cities approach, the book exposes the limitations of contemporary ecological restructuring efforts regarding Indian cities. Further, it offers a blueprint for future innovative and empirical research focusing on other major cities. Accordingly, this topical and original book will be of interest to students and researchers of environmental humanities, political ecology and urban studies.
Blue Justice: Small-Scale Fisheries in a Sustainable Ocean Economy (MARE Publication Series #26)
by Svein Jentoft Ratana Chuenpagdee Alicia Bugeja-Said Moenieba IsaacsFor small-scale fisheries around the world, the Blue Growth and Blue Economy initiatives may provide sustainable development, but only insofar as they align with the global consensus enshrined in the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication. If states do nothing to fulfill the promises they made when they endorsed these guidelines in 2014, the Blue Economy will come at a loss for small-scale fisheries and further their marginalization in the ocean economy. Under the umbrella of Blue Justice, this book demonstrates that these risks are real and must be considered as states implement their sustainable ocean development plans. These are human rights issues, which are embedded into governance principles and institutions and which make a difference for small-scale fisheries people in their daily lives. In stressing the importance of policies and institutions that build on the experiences of small-scale fisheries people in the contexts in which they operate, this book draws on case studies of small-scale fisheries from countries on all continents to clarify what Blue Justice entails for small-scale fisheries and make suggestions for real change. “Through the Blue Justice paradigm, this book flags the relevance of recognizing the potential impact that different factors, including the Blue Economy approach, could bring to fishing communities, their livelihoods, cultural traditions, and other potential multidimensional conflicts. Vulnerability in fishing communities can increase and inequalities can be reinforced at different levels if individuals and community capabilities are not strengthened… A first of its kind, not to be missed, this book is informative, purposeful, and pertinent in an era of change”. Silvia Salas, CINVESTAV, Marine Resources Department, Mérida, Mexico "The studies reveal that Blue Justice is a ‘governability’ issue, which requires establishing ‘right’ institutions, that are transdisciplinary (integrated), participatory, and holistic. It is implicit from these writings that the SSF Guidelines and Blue Growth initiatives do not form two different discourses, and that the implementation of the former would resolve many of the justice issues caused by the latter, in favor of small-scale fisheries and their communities". Oscar Amarasinghe, Professor & Chancellor, Ocean University of Sri Lanka and President, Sri Lanka Forum for Small Scale Fisheries (SLFSSF)
The Blue Machine: How The Ocean Works
by Helen CzerskiA Financial Times Best Science Book of 2023 “[A] profound, sparkling global ocean voyage.” —Andrew Robinson, Nature A scientist’s exploration of the "ocean engine"—the physics behind the ocean’s systems—and why it matters. All of Earth’s oceans, from the equator to the poles, are a single engine powered by sunlight, driving huge flows of energy, water, life, and raw materials. In The Blue Machine, physicist and oceanographer Helen Czerski illustrates the mechanisms behind this defining feature of our planet, voyaging from the depths of the ocean floor to tropical coral reefs, estuaries that feed into shallow coastal seas, and Arctic ice floes. Through stories of history, culture, and animals, she explains how water temperature, salinity, gravity, and the movement of Earth’s tectonic plates all interact in a complex dance, supporting life at the smallest scale—plankton—and the largest—giant sea turtles, whales, humankind. From the ancient Polynesians who navigated the Pacific by reading the waves, to permanent residents of the deep such as the Greenland shark that can live for hundreds of years, she introduces the messengers, passengers, and voyagers that rely on interlinked systems of vast currents, invisible ocean walls, and underwater waterfalls. Most important, however, Czerski reveals that while the ocean engine has sustained us for thousands of years, today it is faced with urgent threats. By understanding how the ocean works, and its essential role in our global system, we can learn how to protect our blue machine. Timely, elegant, and passionately argued, The Blue Machine presents a fresh perspective on what it means to be a citizen of an ocean planet.
Blue Mind: How Water Makes You Happier, More Connected and Better at What You Do
by Wallace J. NicholsWhy are we drawn to the ocean each summer? Why does being near water set our minds and bodies at ease? In Blue Mind, Wallace J. Nichols revolutionizes how we think about these questions, revealing the remarkable truth about the benefits of being in, on, under, or simply near water. Grounded in cutting-edge studies in neurobiology, cognitive psychology, economics, and medicine, and made real by stories of innovative scientists, doctors, athletes, artists, environmentalists, businesspeople and lovers of nature - stories that fascinate the mind and touch the heart - Blue Mind will awaken readers to the vital importance of water to the health and happiness of us all.
A Blue New Deal: Why We Need a New Politics for the Ocean
by Chris ArmstrongAn urgent account of the state of our oceans today—and what we must do to protect them The ocean sustains life on our planet, from absorbing carbon to regulating temperatures, and, as we exhaust the resources to be found on land, it is becoming central to the global market. But today we are facing two urgent challenges at sea: massive environmental destruction, and spiraling inequality in the ocean economy. Chris Armstrong reveals how existing governing institutions are failing to respond to the most pressing problems of our time, arguing that we must do better. Armstrong examines these crises—from the fate of people whose lands will be submerged by sea level rise, to the exploitation of people working in fishing, to the rights of marine animals—and makes the case for a powerful World Ocean Authority capable of tackling them. A Blue New Deal presents a radical manifesto for putting equality, democracy, and sustainability at the heart of ocean politics.
Blue Planet II
by James Honeyborne Mark BrownlowA lavish and definitive view of the oceanic world - accompanying the landmark 7-part BBC series narrated by Sir David Attenborough. With over 200 breath-taking photographs and stills from the BBC Natural History Unit's spectacular footage, this awe-inspiring study of life below the surface will amaze and enthral.'Jaw-dropping' - Variety'Substantial and awe-inspiring' - Publishers Weekly'Breath-taking' -- ***** Reader review'An incredible book and a must buy' -- ***** Reader review'Outstanding' -- ***** Reader review*************************************************************************Take a deep breath and dive into the mysteries of the ocean...Our understanding of ocean life has changed dramatically in the last decade, with new species, new behaviours, and new habitats being discovered at a rapid rate. Blue Planet II, which accompanies the epic BBC 7-part series, is a ground-breaking new look at the richness and variety of underwater life across our planet.From ambush hunters such as the carnivorous bobbit worm to cuttlefish mesmerising their prey with a pulsating light display, Blue Planet II reveals the never-before-seen secrets of the ocean.With over 200 breath-taking photographs and stills from the BBC Natural History Unit's spectacular footage, each chapter of Blue Planet II brings to life a different habitat of the oceanic world.As well as shining a light on ocean life, coral reef and arctic ice communities and shoreline existence, Blue Planet II examines unflinchingly what the future holds for our ocean dwellers. It's a book that will amaze, educate, captivate and astound.
Blue Planet Law: The Ecology of our Economic and Technological World (Sustainable Development Goals Series)
by Maria da Glória Garcia António CortêsBlue Planet Law is the global and future-oriented environmental law that is necessary to face the global environmental crisis in the Anthropocene, assuming especially the link between climate action (SDG 13) and ocean sustainability (SDG 14). This open access book focuses on means of overcoming global environmental problems such as climate change, ocean degradation and biodiversity loss and the consequent risks for human life, health, food and wellbeing. It explores how environmental law, at the international, European and national levels, might set economic and technological development on a more sustainable path. Law must engage in dialogue with other areas such as philosophy, economics, ecology, and biology. This book highlights protection of the climate and the oceans and sustainable use of natural resources, through new policies, economies and technologies, including biotechnology, with a view to the preservation of life, health, food and a healthy environment for the present and future generations. The book may be seen as a contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals 13 and 14 and a tribute to the Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, also known as the Stockholm Conference (1972), on its 50th Anniversary.
Blue Planet Run: The Race to Provide Safe Drinking Water to the World
by Jennifer Erwitt Rick SmolanFrom the creators of the highly acclaimed New York Times best-selling Day in the Life and America 24/7 series, Rick Smolan and Jennifer Erwitt, Blue Planet Run provides readers with a fascinating and thought-provoking look at the water problems facing humanity on every continent, as well as some of the hopeful solutions and courageous "water heroes" focused on alleviating this crisis. The large-format volume features provocative essays by Diane Ackerman (A Natural History of the Senses), environmental leaders Paul Hawken and Bill McKibben, journalists Michael Specter and Jeffrey Rothfeder, Emmy Award-winning TV broadcaster Mike Cerre, Michael Malone, of ABC News and inventor Dean Kamen (the Segway scooter). Advisors and staff include Phillip Moffitt, former editor and owner of Esquire magazine and Stephen Petranek, former editor-in-chief of Discover magazine. Blue Planet Run highlights the vital contributions of nonprofits around the world, including the groundbreaking work of the Blue Planet Run Foundation, which seeks to provide safe drinking water to 200 million people by 2027. The book includes coverage of the 2007 Blue Planet Run, an unprecedented, non-stop, around-the-world relay race designed as a wake-up call to the world. Twenty-one runners, representing 13 countries, began the race on June 1, 2007, at the United Nations and concluded in New York City on September 4, 2007, having circled the Earth in just 95 days while running over 15,000 miles across 16 countries in Europe, Asia and North America.