The following article was written by FXTM staff writer Natasha Keary.
What will the future look like?
Natasha Keary, FXTM
Fast-forward to 2050, and we’ll be living in a technology-clad smart world. Researchers predict that over the next 30 years, driverless cars will represent 90% of global car shares and the average person will possess around 25 smart, internet-connected devices. The hottest (and coldest) holiday destination might well be the moon and Artificial Intelligence will be commonplace in the home. On top of all that, there’s the possibility of personal flying machines, city-based virtual reality spaces, neurotechnologies controlled by thought and…an ocean full of plastic.
That’s according to figures realised at the start of this year. Without drastic action, plastic consumption will surpass 200 million tons in Asia alone by 2025, and the total mass of plastic is set to outweigh that of fish in oceans by 2050. That’s not all. It’s estimated that by 2050, 6 million people will die every year from air pollution-related complications and more than half the world’s population will live in water-stressed areas. FXTM’s staff writer Natasha Keary examines the current state of our seas and looks at ways to potentially quell the crisis.
What’s it like now?
This month, the UN celebrated World Environment Day 2018 by publishing a report announcing the 50 nations currently fighting the growing plastic problem. From banning plastic bags to cracking down on Styrofoam, these nations are taking steps to reduce their plastic pollution. Some have recently announced deadlines for eliminating unnecessary plastic waste entirely – the UK has recently vowed to be plastic waste-free by 2042, and India recently made a historic pledge to eliminate all single-use plastic by 2022.
It may not be enough. Every minute, one refuse truck’s worth of plastic is dumped into the ocean – this plastic will take up to 1,000 years to fully disintegrate. Ocean acidity is growing due to carbon dioxide being absorbed by the seas, threatening coral reefs and the myriad marine life they support. Pollution is actively decreasing the pH of the ocean, causing the calcium-based shells of many sea creatures to literally dissolve in the acidic waters. Targets for plastic elimination set far in the future may come too late to salvage the oceans and its ecosystems.
Our oceans currently provide a wealth of resources and support livelihoods. Oceans cover three quarters of the Earth’s surface, and serve as the world’s largest source of protein. More than 3 billion people depend on the seas for their livelihoods, and marine resources hold a global market value of around $3 trillion. The seas host 200,000 identified species, and biologists predict that there are a huge 800,000 left to discover.
FXTM’s The Long Swim
What can we do to save the seas? It’s time to take responsibility for the world’s waters before it’s too late. The danger facing oceans and their marine life is growing, but many nations have been slow to impose limits on plastic production or industrial pollution.
The Long Swim joins a series of initiatives currently in place to raise awareness and protect the oceans. Alongside campaigns like the UN’s Clean Seas initiative, The Long Swim aims to persuade nations to have 30% of the world’s oceans designated as fully protected marine reserves by 2030 as part of a global Action for Oceans campaign.
How? By setting a new world record! Endurance swimmer and UN Patron of the Oceans, Lewis Pugh, will be completing the world’s first ever swim of the English Channel. That’s a huge 560-kilometre, seven-week swim between Land’s End and Dover.
The Long Swim is sponsored by award-winning, global broker FXTM. Together, FXTM and Lewis Pugh are working together to protect the seas and their marine life. Supporters can follow the swim on Sky News between the 11th of July and the 29th of August, and keep up to date with the #FXTMGoesBlue hashtag.
FXTM’s CEO, Nicholas Defteras, comments:
It’s never too late to make a difference, and that’s why FXTM is extremely proud to announce its partnership with renowned activist Lewis Pugh. We have always taken corporate social responsibility very seriously, and are honoured to contribute to this essential cause as lead supporters of Lewis’ Long Swim.
Despite the novelty of private flying machines (this writer’s personal preference), the future would look so much better with clean, healthy and protected oceans.
Find out more about The Long Swim at www.forextime.com.
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