In the tropical heart of Kerala, where the Arabian Sea meets the backwaters, and monsoon rains both nourish and overwhelm, Kochi is a place of resilience and renewal. Formerly a bustling hub of maritime culture, the city was sustained by its intricate network of canals. Among them, the 10-km Thevara–Perandoor (TP) Canal, served as a vital waterway linking inland towns to Kochi’s port.

Over time, however, unchecked urbanisation and neglect have choked the TP Canal. Once thriving, it has become an outlet for waste and runoff, sending pollutants first into Vembanad Lake, India’s longest freshwater lake and a wetland of global importance, and ultimately into the global ocean. Studies have found a high concentration of microplastics in the lake (ranging from 96-496 particles/sq metre), affecting fisheries, migratory birds and livelihoods.

The need for carbon-free energy is pressing, but society must progress with information that ensures we are developing sources that are themselves environmentally responsible and sustainable.

The ocean and its ecosystems are facing unprecedented challenges from climate change which is heating both land and sea to record levels. According to NOAA research forecasts, 40% of the global ocean is experiencing marine heatwave conditions and that figure is expected to remain high through the end of 2023. These anomalously warm ocean temperatures have significant impacts on marine life and coastal communities and economies, bleaching coral reefs, creating conditions that can favor harmful algal blooms and decreasing the productivity of cold water ecosystems like those off California and other upwelling zones that harbor whales, salmon and lush kelp forests. Continued observational monitoring helps marine managers and researchers understand and mitigate climate impacts on marine life, but ocean data is also critical when looking to the ocean for climate solutions, including offshore wind and other technologies to generate renewable ocean energy.