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SOUL OF THE SEA: In the Age of the Algorithm
This publication draws upon the fields of science, economics and business strategy to chart the future of humankind’s relationship to the ocean. A healthy ocean provides the basis for a prosperous world, and oceans have been largely ignored as a driver of human well-being until now. Ocean health has been in a serious state of decline for the past 100 years from a range of pressures including human population growth, energy consumption and use of natural resources. Humanity will exceed the resources and environmental conditions necessary to exist, within the next century if nothing changes. Solutions to these challenges lie not only in traditional resource conservation management, but in new fields of technology, governance and innovation.
128 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 21, 2019
A great review of problems and potential solutions of the world's ocean today. It was written by two authors - one (Greg Stone) taking stock of the history (ocean civilisation) and the other (Nishan Degnarain) attempt to provide a vision and the way forward (the leadership moment) in succinct manner.
The book was given to all delegates at the UN Ocean conference in 2017 which I attended. It was a moment when Ocean has fully arrived on the world agenda. SDG 14 is the first one to have such a forceful conference - raising awareness as well as tackling challenges. Climate change, unsustainable and overfishing, land-based pollution and plastic crisis occupied most of the discussion.
The book touches on key concept (planetary boundaries, tragedy of the commons, ocean health etc) and provides a good overview of human exploitation of the ocean from pre-industrial (ocean explorations both Western and Asian nations); to the first industrial (1750s-1850s) the birth of steam engine, whaling, slavery, piracy; the second industrial (1850-1950) petroleum-based, electricity, screw propellers and navigation system gave birth to large, modern vessels and started to exploit marine resources like never before; the third industrial (1950-present) industrial fishing, international agreement like UNCLOS, globalization all come together and put pressure to marine environment in unprecedented speed and scale.
Evolution in our collective awareness is also very useful from 1950s (militarisation), 1960s (civil awakening), 1970s (civil engagement) 1980s (vive la resolution) 1990s (public-private-partnerships), 2000s (events), 2010s (dawns of the fourth industrial revolution).
Then the book takes turn to looking ahead discussing about the prospect of the fourth industrial revolution (Digital innovations, AI, Internet of things, Fin-tech, Blockchain). The author put forward some very ambitious ideas equipped with new available technologies like censors, internet, decision-making crowd and system acupuncture how to stimulate self-healing process.
Some ideas may be far-fetched but I guess that's the whole point to lay out some of ambitions that go beyond the traditional thinking and confined discipline. It is interesting idea and countries that recognize the potential will surely be in a better position to realize this Blue Economy grand vision - forging development ahead while restoring critical ecosystem.
Good reference for Ocean agenda setting.
The book was given to all delegates at the UN Ocean conference in 2017 which I attended. It was a moment when Ocean has fully arrived on the world agenda. SDG 14 is the first one to have such a forceful conference - raising awareness as well as tackling challenges. Climate change, unsustainable and overfishing, land-based pollution and plastic crisis occupied most of the discussion.
The book touches on key concept (planetary boundaries, tragedy of the commons, ocean health etc) and provides a good overview of human exploitation of the ocean from pre-industrial (ocean explorations both Western and Asian nations); to the first industrial (1750s-1850s) the birth of steam engine, whaling, slavery, piracy; the second industrial (1850-1950) petroleum-based, electricity, screw propellers and navigation system gave birth to large, modern vessels and started to exploit marine resources like never before; the third industrial (1950-present) industrial fishing, international agreement like UNCLOS, globalization all come together and put pressure to marine environment in unprecedented speed and scale.
Evolution in our collective awareness is also very useful from 1950s (militarisation), 1960s (civil awakening), 1970s (civil engagement) 1980s (vive la resolution) 1990s (public-private-partnerships), 2000s (events), 2010s (dawns of the fourth industrial revolution).
Then the book takes turn to looking ahead discussing about the prospect of the fourth industrial revolution (Digital innovations, AI, Internet of things, Fin-tech, Blockchain). The author put forward some very ambitious ideas equipped with new available technologies like censors, internet, decision-making crowd and system acupuncture how to stimulate self-healing process.
Some ideas may be far-fetched but I guess that's the whole point to lay out some of ambitions that go beyond the traditional thinking and confined discipline. It is interesting idea and countries that recognize the potential will surely be in a better position to realize this Blue Economy grand vision - forging development ahead while restoring critical ecosystem.
Good reference for Ocean agenda setting.
September 4, 2017
If you love oceans, this is a great book to read. I found Soul of the Sea to be different from other books relating to global environmental issues - perhaps because it doesn't portray oceans as such. It transforms oceans from an abstract, 'sciency' (or industrial) concept into a space that all of us can identify with - and work on.
What I liked is that the book combines scientific and economic expertise to make a compelling case about how each of us has a role to play in saving our oceans, but also, how bold solutions can be implemented to reverse the threats that are affecting it. It is all presented in a simple, accessible way.
What I liked is that the book combines scientific and economic expertise to make a compelling case about how each of us has a role to play in saving our oceans, but also, how bold solutions can be implemented to reverse the threats that are affecting it. It is all presented in a simple, accessible way.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews