The Need for Systems Thinking in Ocean Challenges
By Maria Loloni
The health of our oceans has never been more at risk. Rising sea temperatures, acidification, overfishing and pollution are escalating—causing irreversible damage to our ocean ecosystems.
In the past few years, more initiatives have been trying to solve these challenges. Most of these tackle challenges individually, as if trying to put out little fires one by one.
We need a different mindset. One that understands the complexity and interconnectedness of all challenges. One that understands the ocean as a system. One that tackles the root of the issues. Instead of trying to put out fires, we need to look at what started the fire in the first place.
Activities such as offshore energy production, shipping, coastal tourism, aquaculture and fishing play important roles in the global economy. However, they also bring a set of interconnected challenges that affect the ocean: pollution, overfishing and ecosystem breakdown. It would be naive to think that these challenges could be easily solved with high-tech solutions, as there are many social, political and economic factors linked to these.
By adopting a systems-thinking approach, we see well beyond what lies at the surface, and then we act by “intervening” in the system. Sometimes, the best way forward is through policy changes, community-driven projects, or new economic and funding models, but if we want to implement lasting change, these interventions must also be connected and collaborative.
Take ocean acidification. It’s not just a science problem; it’s tied to carbon emissions from buildings, industries, and transport, while also closely connected to international climate policies and the livelihoods of coastal communities. Once we understand these links, we can create more targeted, effective interventions that ensure long-lasting impact.
Systems thinking is at the foundation of EIT Climate-KIC’s work. Whether we work on urban transformation, circular economy, climate adaptation or the transition to a sustainable food system, we know that everything connects. And it’s the same when it comes to the sustainable management of the ocean.
A few months ago, we became members of the EU4Ocean Coalition, an initiative that brings together educators, policymakers, scientists, civil society, arts, and businesses working on and around the ocean. Our goal: to promote ocean literacy and encourage better stewardship of our seas. We want to help people understand the ocean as an interconnected system and how our innovation activities might have a positive or negative impact on several fronts.
This July, I had the opportunity to participate in the EU4Ocean “Ocean Literacy and Collaboration” Summer School organized by UNESCO in Malmö, Sweden. Bringing experience from our on-the-ground system transformation work in ports, we guided the participants through the steps of engaging diverse stakeholders in the ocean space. Local communities, governments, research, financiers, industry leaders—they all need a seat at the table to co-create their vision, as well as projects and activities that will make it a reality. Thanks to our collaboration with UNESCO, we’ve participated in similar ocean literacy activities organized in Venice, Italy, and Matosinhos, Portugal, spreading the message that multiple challenges should be examined simultaneously, and collaboration among diverse stakeholders is key to innovation. This goes beyond raising awareness: It’s about changing mindsets to encourage more holistic and effective action.
Looking at the ocean as one interconnected system affects how we manage it. Instead of responding to problems as they arise, we try to understand their causes and prevent them in the first place. This means we are shifting from reactive, short-term fixes to more thoughtful, long-term strategies that acknowledge the ocean’s complexity.
Ports, for example, are vital in global trade and have a significant environmental footprint. Through our globally award-winning LOOP Ports project (www.loop-ports.eu), we’ve demonstrated how a circular economy model can help ports reduce waste and emissions. This contributes to creating a more sustainable future for the entire sector.
Government, business, research, local communities—everyone has a role to play in building a healthier ocean, and collaboration is at the heart of our approach. No single sector or group can fix the ocean’s problems alone; our system transformation projects with the ports of Lavrio and Piraeus, Greece, and Valencia, Spain, as well as citizen-driven programs such as Climathon (climathon.climate-kic.org), show the sort of change that can happen through collaboration.
We must deepen our understanding of the ocean’s complexities and act with urgency to collaborate on a common vision that connects activities and increases awareness for a sustainable ocean. Systems thinking will enable long-lasting change.