The Ocean Starts in Our Cities 

The ocean’s future is shaped by our cities – whether they sit by the coast or deep inland.

I grew up in Mumbai, by the Arabian Sea. The coast was my playground, my sanctuary, my constant. I built sandcastles, strolled along the shore, and drank fresh coconut water. But more than anything, I found solace there, sitting by the shore, listening to the rhythmic crash of the waves, feeling the vastness of the sea quiet my mind. 

We all have different relationships with the ocean. For some, it’s a place of peace; for others, a livelihood, an adventure, or just a holiday escape. But beyond personal connections, the ocean is essential to life on Earth. It provides oxygen, regulates the climate, and supports economies and food systems worldwide. 

Yet, despite its vastness, the ocean is not an isolated ecosystem. What happens on land – especially in cities – determines its fate. 

Cities: The problem and the solution 

More than 80% of marine pollution originates on land. The plastic floating in the ocean starts in our streets, rivers, and landfills.

Chemical runoff from cities and untreated wastewater flows through waterways, eventually reaching the sea. Every choice in urban spaces – whether by the coast or hundreds of kilometres inland – shapes the ocean’s future. 

Cities are the beating heart of modern life. They drive industry, dictate policy, and influence global trends. That makes them central to the problem – but also key to the solution. 

Local action, global impact 

When cities act, the ocean benefits. Reducing plastic waste, improving waste collection, and restoring urban waterways help stop pollution before it reaches the sea.

Sustainable urban planning and better water management reduce harmful runoff. Ocean literacy programmes ensure future generations understand and protect marine ecosystems. 

Across Europe, some cities are already stepping up – banning single-use plastics, improving waste infrastructure, rewilding urban spaces, and integrating ocean literacy into schools. These efforts prove that local action works. But they’re not enough. We need more cities to act – and fast. 

A movement to turn the tide 

That’s why I’m supporting MakeEUBlue: Cities in Action, a citizen-driven movement urging European cities to take meaningful steps toward ocean sustainability. The campaign calls on cities to commit to concrete, achievable actions – cutting pollution, protecting waterways, and adopting sustainable policies. But this isn’t just about city leaders. It’s about citizens demanding change. 

Through the MakeEUBlue petition, residents can push local officials to act. The European Union has ambitious ocean sustainability goals, but these targets will remain empty promises unless cities step up. The solutions exist. We just need the political will to implement them. 

The ocean is closer than we think 

I no longer wake up to the sight of the sea. But the more I understand the ocean’s deep connection to our lives, the clearer it becomes – it’s not something far away. It’s in the policies we enact, the waste we manage, and the waterways we protect. 

[The ocean is] not something far away. It’s in the policies we enact, the waste we manage, and the waterways we protect. 

Global action is crucial, but real change starts locally. If European cities act now, we can turn the tide. 

The ocean starts in our cities. It’s time to MakeEUBlue.