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Hope and doubt for the world’s marine ecosystems

In June 5–9, 2017, during the United Nations (UN) Ocean Conference, 143 governments, signatory parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) declared their commitment and strategies to reach several objectives of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14, which stands to “conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development”.

The Ocean as a Solution to Climate Change Five - Opportunities for Action (Full)

The ocean is a dominant feature of our plant, covering 70 percent of its surface and driving its climate and biosphere. The ocean sustains life on earth and yet is in peril from climate change. However, while much of recent attention is focused on the problems that the ocean faces, the ocean is also a source of potential solutions and innovation. This report explores how the ocean, its coastal regions and economic activities can provide opportunities in the fight against climate change.

 

The Ocean as a Solution to Climate Change - Five Opportunities for Action (Summary)

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.

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French Polynesia’s coral reefs, bountiful fish populations, and other marine life are not immune to the mounting threats facing the world’s ocean, and a poll released today shows that local communities are concerned about the future of their seas: Nearly 80 percent of Polynesians think the ocean