Oceans may be key in global climate struggle

Subject

Climate change and the oceans.

Significance

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on September 25 released a new special report highlighting the risks to marine and human life from global warming symptoms such as sea-level rise, ocean acidification and marine heatwaves. The report’s release coincided with news that this year’s Arctic sea-ice minimum was the joint-second lowest on record. Last month’s UN Secretary-General’s Climate Action Summit saw 70 countries indicate their intention to submit revised Paris Agreement pledges next year. However, the largest emitters made only vague announcements.

Impacts

• Reduced sea ice in the Arctic will enable greater economic activities such as fishing, shipping and tourism.
• Considerable technical hurdles remain to developing robust ‘blue carbon’ accounting which may hinder advancement.
• Economic feasibility, social acceptance and environmental trade-offs, more than technology, will present barriers to coastal protection.