Editor's note: 

This is an article by Kate Johnson, a journalist with a love for the sea. This is her contribution to "One Home: Shared Future," the global youth campaign launched by CGTN to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the United Nations. Participants from every continent are submitting stories, photographs and videos that spotlight the issues they believe must shape the next chapter of our planet. 

We know that about 71 percent of the Earth's surface is covered by the ocean, earning it the nickname "Blue Planet." In early June 2025, the UN Ocean Conference held in France reminded us that the Earth's "blue lungs," a common heritage of humanity, are vital to us. Acting as carbon sinks, they absorb 20-30 percent of the carbon dioxide emitted by human activities and provide food for nearly 3 billion people worldwide.

My name is Kate Johnson, a journalist with a love for the sea. I have been fortunate enough to travel and swim in the seas along the coasts of several countries, from Spain to Sardinia and even Koh Rong in Cambodia. Each time, I was struck by the crystal-clear waters and the deep turquoise hues. I particularly enjoy swimming among colorful fish, marveling at the beauty and diversity of marine life that has always fascinated me.

Had I been able to dive deeper than 1,000 meters (admittedly extreme for a vacation), I would have discovered abyssal wildlife – only a small percentage of marine species capable of adapting to oxygen deprivation, darkness, freezing temperatures and extreme pressure. 

To survive in this inhospitable environment, these creatures often have bizarre, even grotesque appearances, but possess unique adaptations: gelatinous or transparent bodies, bioluminescent flashes, expandable stomachs, or oversized teeth. Beyond maintaining the food chain balance, their genetic traits could lead to groundbreaking scientific discoveries.

Slightly less intimidating, deep-sea plankton and corals also play a key role in absorbing human-emitted carbon dioxide, helping mitigate climate change. Some species, like the sponge Discodermia dissoluta, are even used in anti-cancer drugs.

Protecting the oceans means safeguarding the biodiversity they harbor, a treasure trove of evolutionary marvels that science has only begun to understand. Yet this fragile world faces growing threats: deep-sea mining, plastic pollution and the cascading effects of warming surface waters. 

Exploiting these depths until they become another casualty of human progress, or recognizing that their preservation is not just an ecological imperative, but an investment in our own future. The choice is ours to make. 

(All photos courtesy of Kate Johnson)