The ocean is on the front lines of the battle against climate change. It already has absorbed 93 percent of the heat trapped by human-generated carbon dioxide (CO2 ) emissions. It absorbs 25-30 percent of annual CO2 emissions that would otherwise remain in the atmosphere and increase global warming. It has become a victim of climate change, putting everyone at risk. The ocean is getting warmer and becoming more acidic—a direct result of the extra CO2 being dissolved into it. These changes are damaging marine ecosystems (e.g., killing coral reefs), shifting the location and size of commercial fish stocks, and compromising the ability of the ocean to provide food, livelihoods, and safe coastal habitation on which billions of people depend.
