Oceans Day
Notes by Mark Cheng, a World Ocean Network participant at COP16 (more info click here)
The world’s oceans play a central role in climate, akin to the Earth’s lungs and circulatory system-generating oxygen, absorbing carbon dioxide and regulating climate and temperature. Oceans already absorb over 80% of the heat added to the climate system and nearly 50% of all CO2 added to the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels over past 250 years.
But, the oceans’ ability to provide these life-sustaining services is now at risk. Rising ocean temperatures trigger board-scale effects, such as melting polar ice, rising sea levels, shifting species distribution and abundance, erratic weather patterns, increased frequency and intensity of storms, and changes in ocean currents. Moreover, rising levels of CO2 absorbed by seawater has caused a 30% increase in acidity, posing serious threats to marine ecosystems and the millions of people dependent upon them. The more than 50% of the human population that lives in 183 coastal countries, including 44 small island nations, are at the frontline of climate change and will suffer disproportionate impacts.
Oceans and coasts, however, have not yet figured on agenda of the UNFCCC.
Conclusions of Oceans Day at Cancún, by Mark Cheng
A comprehensive oceans and climate program would encompass:
Mitigation:
1. Ensure the continuing functioning of the oceans in sustaining life on Earth by adopting stringent reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, within a short time-frame, to avoid disastrous consequences on oceans and coastal communities.
2. Emphasize the positive contributions that oceans and coastal areas play in the mitigation of global warming through:
(i) Use of natural carbon sinks in coastal areas (eg. Mangroves, seagrass beds, kelp forests, tidal marshes) which have a greater capacity (per unit of area) than terrestrial carbon sinks in achieving long-term carbon sequestration in sediments. “Blue Carbob” could be traded and handled in the similar way as Green Carbon (eg. Rainforests) and entered into emission and climate mitigation protocols.
(ii) Reduction of CO2 emissions from ships through a variety of technical and operational measures. CO2 emissions from international shipping, accounting for 2.7% of global emissions in 2007, are expected to grow to 18% by 2050 s a result of growth in world trade.
(iii) Development of ocean-bases renewable energy, such as wind power, currents, tides, and OTEC, through the use of marine spatial planning, giving appropriate priority to marine renewable energy and through funding for large-scale development and implementation.
(iv) Careful consideration of carbon capture and storage via injection in deep seabed geological formations.
Some geo-engineering approaches such as direct injection of CO2 into water column, and ocean fertilization, however, should be discouraged due to the potential for irreversible harm to the marine environment.
Adaptation:
1. Implement adaptation measures through integrated coastal and ocean management institutions at national, regional, and local levels to achieve the preparedness, resilience, and adaptive capacities of coastal communities.
2. Encourage the application of ecosystem-based adaptation strategies to preserve, restore and increase the resilience of coastal and marine ecosystems, including through the use of marine protected areas.
3. Prepare for the legal, economic, social and humanitarian issues associated with the displacement of coastal populations due to climate change.
Capacity development and public education
Extensive capacity development, public education and awareness programs are urgently needed to prepare national and local officials and the public in coastal regions to address climate change.
Financing
Adaptation cost estimates for coastal areas and small island states are woefully inadequate, as are the adaptation resources currently available. UNFCCC 2007 estimates the cost if adaptation in coastal zones at about $11 billion/year, using lower seas level rise predictions and not including potential impacts of increased storm intensity. With over half of the world’s population living in coastal regions and likely to experience the most pronounced effects of climate change, at least half the funds made available for adaptation should target coastal and island peoples and countries.
- Consult Oceans Day at Cancún leaflet and agenda: click here.
- Visit Oceans Day at Cancún website: click here.
