The ocean plays a vital role in regulating our climate. Global climate change is set to have a profound impact on marine life as sea temperature rises and our oceans become more acidic. Rapidly rising greenhouse gas concentrations are driving ocean systems toward conditions not seen for millions of years, and as a result we run the risk of fundamental and irreversible changes to plant and animal life in our oceans1. Widespread changes are already happening. As climate change causes our oceans to warm and acidify, the effects of coral bleaching and reduced coral growth rates intensify2.
The world’s largest coral reef system, the Great Barrier Reef, has suffered a 10% loss from coral bleaching over the past 27 years3. A study for the Great Barrier Reef Foundation found that climate-induced coral bleaching could cost us $37.7 billion in lost value from the Great Barrier Reef alone4. And the troubles don’t stop at the shore. Given the essential role oceans play in preserving all life on Earth, problems for our seas and their wildlife quickly become problems for us. Over half of the oxygen in the atmosphere comes from the sea. In other words, we owe one out of every two breaths to the ocean, so the impacts of climate change on the oceans may leave us gasping for breath. Urgent action is required. We must act now to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and limit further carbon increase. Reducing emissions will help stabilise global warming to allow our natural ecosystems to adapt5. Our goal is to see Australia at the forefront of innovation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to reduce human impacts on our marine wildlife, such as fishing, mining and pollution, which directly reduce the ability of marine ecosystems to combat and recover from climate change impacts.
References
1 O. Hoegh-Guldberg and J.F. Bruno. 2010. The impact of Climate Change on the World’s Marine Ecosystems. Science, vol. 328, p. 1523-1528.
2 E.S. Poloczanska, A.J. Hobday and A.J. Richardson. 2009. Report Card of Marine Climate Change for Australia http://www.oceanclimatechange.org.au/content/images/uploads/Report_card_web.pdf
3 http://www.aims.gov.au/latest-news/-/asset_publisher/MlU7/content/2-october-2012-the-great-barrier-reef-has-lost-half-of-its-coral-in-the-last-27-years
4 http://www.oxfordeconomics.com/Contents/Item/Display/129099
5 J. Hansen, et al. 2008. Target Atmospheric CO2: Where should humanity aim? NASA.(http://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/0804/0804.1126.pdf)
6 NOAA. 2013. Current CO2 data trends. (http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ccgg/trends/).
7 350.org. 2013. 350 Science – Carbon trends. (http://350.org/en/about/science)
8 B.I. McNeil and R.J. Matear. 2008. Southern Ocean acidification: A tipping point at 450-ppm atmospheric CO2.