June 8 marks World Oceans Day to draw the attention of governments and society to the need to protect them. this oceans play an important role in climate regulationbut what is its current status and what impact is climate change having? Global warming poses a serious threat to the health of the world’s oceans, adding to this the environmental changes caused by human activity.
Changes caused by climate change, temperature rise, sea level rise and acidification, According to the United Nations warning.
The polar regions are melting at unprecedented rates, and the oceans, along with the ice sheets, are vital in regulating the planet’s temperature because absorbs 90% of excess system heat.
A 3ºC rise in global temperature means a one meter rise in sea level, causing millions of people around the world to migrate from coastal areas, with Spain being one of the most affected countries.
But less severe warming (like the 2ºC maximum envisioned by the Paris Agreement and easily achievable in the medium term) could also mean sea level rises, with dramatic implications for large areas of the planet, including Spain.
Too much CO2 increases the acidity of the ocean and kills life in it.
The oceans absorb 20 to 30% of the carbon from the CO2 emissions produced mainly when we burn oil, gas or coal. Although this absorption is in principle a positive effect (the level of CO2 in the atmosphere decreases), It means a decrease in the pH of the water (increases acidification) and this greatly reduces the population of fish and crustaceans, affecting both marine and human life.
Nowadays, 90% of large fish species are affected and 50% of coral reefs disappear. Humans are extracting more from the ocean than can be repaired.
That is why experts from all over the world point out that we must work to create a new balance, in which we do not consume all that the ocean gives us, but on the contrary restore its vitality and give it a new life.
Hence the motto of the 2022 campaign: “Animation: Collective Action for the Ocean’.
Five action areas in the oceans
The UN has identified five areas of action that can support the fight against climate change in the ocean. These action areas are:
Marine-based renewable energy: increasing offshore wind farms (especially floating ones) and investing in new and innovative ocean-based energy sources such as floating photovoltaic solar systems, wave power and tidal power.
sea transport: Accelerate the decarbonisation of the port industry as well as large fleets of ships such as cruise ships, freighters or oil tankers.
coastal and marine ecosystems: Protect existing ‘blue carbon’ ecosystems (mangroves, seagrass beds and salt marshes) with high CO2 capture capacity.
Fisheries, aquaculture and dietary changes: Reduce the emission intensity of fishing and aquaculture operations by optimizing wild catches and switching to low-carbon food options.
Carbon storage on the ocean floor: Invest in research and remove regulatory and economic barriers as needed to minimize the environmental impacts of long-term storage of carbon on the seafloor.
The full implementation of these ocean-based solutions, can contribute to one-fifth (up to 21%) of annual greenhouse gas reductions The world needs it by 2050 if it wants to keep global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius.
But this will require more political will, investment and private sector involvement, new public financing mechanisms, and clear signs of support for technology deployment and transfer, science warns.
…..
Environment department contact address:[email protected]