2023-06-08 05:00:49
May sees record temperatures as experts point to the devastating effects of global warming on the oceans, from melting ice to acidification.
As the United Nations celebrates World Oceans Day this Thursday, alarming news has been added to the list of environmental concerns.
The surface of the oceans experienced its warmest May on record.
This worrying trend is part of a broader context of global warming which is causing “unprecedented cascading effects”, according to specialists.
These effects include melting sea ice, ocean heat waves and ocean acidification. Accelerated melting of ice caps contributes to sea level rise, threatening coastal populations and fragile coastal ecosystems.
Ocean heat waves, on the other hand, disrupt marine ecosystems, leading to the migration of species and the destruction of habitats.
Finally, the acidification of the oceans, resulting from the absorption of carbon dioxide by seawater, has harmful effects on corals and marine organisms with shells.
Industrial fishing and plastic pollution: additional threats
In addition to the direct consequences of global warming, specialists highlight the destructive impact of industrial fishing and plastic pollution on the oceans.
According to Lucy Woodall, associate professor of marine conservation biology and policy at the University of Exeter, these multiple pressures have a massive impact on how the oceans function and the benefits they provide to the whole planet.
Unregulated or poorly regulated industrial fishing puts marine life and fragile ecosystems at risk. At the same time, plastic pollution, one of the most harmful wastes for the environment, represents a major challenge.
This is why last week a draft treaty to end plastic pollution was agreed, a preliminary but crucial step in the fight once morest this scourge.
Urgent solutions: reduce CO2 emissions and create protected areas
Faced with these growing threats, specialists are calling for immediate action. Reducing carbon dioxide emissions globally is crucial to slowing ocean warming. Currently, the ocean already absorbs 25% of all CO2 emissions, but its absorption capacity is reaching its limits.
Cassandra Brooks, assistant professor of environmental studies at the University of Colorado Boulder, stresses the importance of creating large-scale protected areas to preserve the oceans and their fragile biodiversity.
World Oceans Day should be an opportunity for nations to work together and come up with viable solutions, both nationally and internationally, to address the damage caused by the climate crisis.
By concluding a draft treaty to end plastic pollution, the international community marks a significant step forward. However, there is still much to be done to preserve our oceans, these precious ecosystems that play a vital role for our planet.
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