As the world gathers in Mombasa to deliberate on the future
of our oceans, one truth must be acknowledged with greater urgency than ever
before: the battle for ocean health will be won or lost in our cities.
For decades, global conversations about marine conservation
have rightly focused on issues such as overfishing, biodiversity loss, climate
change, maritime governance and the protection of fragile ecosystems.
Yet an equally important reality often receives insufficient
attention. The greatest pressures facing our oceans originate not only at sea,
but on land—particularly in rapidly growing coastal cities.
Across the globe, more than 40 per cent of the world’s population lives within 100 kilometres of a coastline.
Coastal cities continue to attract people seeking
opportunity, trade, investment and employment. As these urban centres expand,
so too do the demands for housing, sanitation, transportation, water, waste
management and public infrastructure.
The challenge is straightforward. When cities grow faster
than the infrastructure supporting them, the consequences eventually reach the
ocean.
Untreated wastewater finds its way into rivers and coastal
waters. Poorly managed solid waste enters drainage systems and eventually
marine ecosystems.
Destruction of mangrove forests increases vulnerability to
climate shocks while weakening natural coastal protection.
The cumulative effect is a gradual but profound degradation
of the very oceans upon which millions depend for their livelihoods and
wellbeing.
This is why coastal cities must no longer be viewed as
peripheral actors in ocean conservation. They must be recognised as central
partners in achieving global ocean health.
The reality is that local governments are on the frontline
of this challenge. Every day, city administrations make decisions that directly
influence the health of marine ecosystems.
Decisions about sewerage systems, waste collection, land use
planning, drainage infrastructure, housing developments and environmental
protection all have consequences that extend beyond city boundaries and
ultimately affect our oceans.
In Mombasa, we understand this responsibility intimately.
Our city sits on the shores of the Indian Ocean, one of the
world’s most important maritime corridors. The ocean sustains our economy
through tourism, fisheries, trade and port activities. It is woven into our
identity and our history. Protecting it is not simply an environmental
obligation; it is an economic necessity.
That is why investments in urban infrastructure must
increasingly be viewed as investments in ocean conservation.
I wish to commend President William Ruto for committing $20
million towards the modernisation and rehabilitation of the sewerage
infrastructure serving the heart of Mombasa Island.
This investment demonstrates an important principle that
should guide policymakers everywhere: improving ocean health begins with
strengthening urban systems.
Modern sewerage infrastructure is not merely about public
works. It is about protecting marine ecosystems from pollution. It is about
safeguarding public health. It is about creating conditions for sustainable
economic growth. Most importantly, it is about recognising the direct
connection between healthy cities and healthy oceans.
Similarly, I commend Cabinet Secretary Ali Hassan Joho for
his leadership in advancing Kenya’s Blue Economy agenda and for helping bring
the global conversation on ocean sustainability to Mombasa.
The choice of Mombasa as a venue for these discussions is
significant because it places a coastal city at the centre of a conversation
that directly concerns its future.
Yet while commitments such as these are encouraging, they
also highlight a broader challenge confronting coastal cities worldwide:
financing.
The vast majority of coastal cities understand what needs to
be done. They know where wastewater treatment systems require upgrading. They
know which drainage networks need expansion.
They know where mangroves should be restored and where
climate adaptation measures must be implemented.
What many lack is access to the capital necessary to
undertake these investments at the scale required.
This financing gap represents one of the greatest obstacles
to achieving global ocean sustainability goals.
National governments, multilateral development banks,
climate finance institutions and international development partners must
therefore rethink how ocean conservation is funded.
Greater resources must flow directly toward the
infrastructure projects that reduce pollution before it reaches the sea.
Supporting coastal cities should not be viewed as a local
expenditure. It should be understood as a global environmental investment.
Every sewer system upgraded in a coastal city contributes to
cleaner oceans. Every drainage network improved reduces marine pollution. Every
restored mangrove forest strengthens climate resilience and protects
biodiversity.
Every investment in sustainable urban growth produces
environmental dividends far beyond municipal boundaries.
The future of ocean conservation depends upon recognising
these connections.
As leaders gather to discuss the health of our oceans, let
us remember that implementation happens locally. Global declarations are
important. International agreements matter. Scientific research remains
indispensable.
But tangible progress occurs where people live, work and
build communities.
It occurs in cities.
The future of our oceans and the future of our coastal
cities are inseparable. One cannot thrive without the other.
If we genuinely wish to preserve the oceans for future
generations, then we must place coastal cities at the centre of our
environmental, development and financing strategies. We must empower them with
the resources, partnerships and policy support necessary to succeed.
The ocean connects us all. Protecting it requires action
from all levels of government. Yet it is in our coastal cities where the
greatest opportunity for meaningful and lasting impact exists.
The time has come to invest accordingly.
The writer is the Governor of Mombasa and the ODM deputy party leader
