Coastal and ocean environments face growing challenges in the future, making this a key topic in IB Geography, particularly within Option B: Oceans and Coastal Margins. These environments are highly dynamic and support millions of people through food supply, trade, tourism, and ecosystem services. However, increasing human pressure and climate change are placing these systems under significant stress.
One of the most serious future challenges is climate change. Rising sea levels threaten low-lying coastal areas through increased flooding, erosion, and saltwater intrusion into freshwater supplies. Coastal settlements, wetlands, and ecosystems are particularly vulnerable. More frequent and intense storms increase wave energy, accelerating erosion and damaging coastal infrastructure. Managing coastlines will become more complex and costly as climate risks intensify.
Ocean warming and acidification present major challenges for marine ecosystems. Warmer sea temperatures disrupt marine food webs and contribute to coral bleaching, reducing biodiversity. Ocean acidification, caused by increased carbon dioxide absorption, weakens shell-forming organisms and coral reefs. These changes reduce ecosystem resilience and threaten fisheries that millions of people depend on for food and income.
Another key challenge is pollution, particularly plastic waste. Large quantities of plastic enter the oceans each year, harming marine life through ingestion and entanglement. Microplastics are increasingly found throughout marine ecosystems and food chains, raising concerns about long-term environmental and human health impacts. Reducing pollution requires global cooperation, improved waste management, and changes in consumption patterns.
Overexploitation of marine resources is also a growing concern. Overfishing threatens fish stocks and marine biodiversity, while illegal and unregulated fishing undermines sustainable management efforts. As global demand for seafood increases, pressure on marine ecosystems will intensify unless effective regulation and enforcement improve.
In IB Geography, future challenges are closely linked to governance. Managing oceans and coastlines is difficult because they often fall under multiple national jurisdictions or exist beyond national boundaries. Weak international regulation and competing economic interests limit effective protection. Strengthening cooperation and enforcement will be essential for sustainable management.
Coastal development presents additional challenges. Expanding cities, ports, and tourism infrastructure increase pressure on fragile coastal systems. Without careful planning, development can increase flood risk, pollution, and habitat loss. Sustainable coastal planning will be critical to balancing economic growth and environmental protection.
Overall, the future of coastal and ocean environments is shaped by climate change, pollution, resource pressure, and governance challenges. Addressing these issues requires long-term planning, international cooperation, and sustainable management strategies.
RevisionDojo helps IB Geography students understand future coastal and ocean challenges clearly, linking environmental change, human pressure, and sustainability into confident, exam-ready explanations.
