{summary#bullet-1}
Ocean and global warming: the current situation
The great challenge of our time is surely to combat climate change, and it becomes urgent to find solutions to win it as soon as possible. In this context, there is one ecosystem, the largest on the planet, that can be an extraordinary ally: theocean.
The oceans cover more than 2/3 of the Earth's surface and hold 97 percent of the water present worldwide. They also provide half of the oxygen essential for life and can absorb about 25% of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
(Source: European Commission)
Considering the large portions occupied by seas on our globe, we can define Earth as the "blue planet," an essential place for life for every living species. This extraordinary environment provides multiple ecosystem services to humans, including the fundamental one of climate regulation, on which human existence depends.
However, the threats that are stalking the oceans are increasing daily: climate change, plastics in the seas, overfishing, water acidification, industrial discharges.
{summary#bullet-2}
Initiatives to benefit the oceans
Increasing attention to this ecosystem has prompted several political forces, national and international, to move in an effort to preserve it:
- In 2015, the United Nations included within the 2030 Agenda a specific "goal" dedicated to the ocean and life underwater;
- In 2017, the first "Planetary Conference for the Oceans" was held, again supported by the UN, with the intention of promoting sustainable use of the oceans;
- on March 4, 2023, after more than 15 years of negotiation, bargaining and postponement, the "UN Treaty on High Seas" was signed by the member countries of the United Nations.
By definition, the high seas are defined as the area of ocean located beyond national territorial waters that is not subject to the government of any state, located beyond 200 miles from the coast.
The agreement, which represents a real historical breakthrough, has as its first objective the protection of the areas of the seas that are not subject to any jurisdiction, encompassing within it the protection and preservation of the marine ecosystems that comprise them and the biodiversity found therein.
The second ambitious goal the UN has set itself is to achieve the protection of 30 percent of these waters by 2030.
The hope of this "Blue deal," as European Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius calls it, is that we will finally be able to respect this habitat and recognize the enormous value it possesses.
{summary#bullet-3}
The effects of rising temperatures on the ocean .
Studies say that rising temperatures have not only affected land: marine waters have also been experiencing record high temperatures.
According to several scientists, rising sea temperatures are increasing at an unprecedented rate: the oceans are reportedly warming at a faster rate in the last century than they did in the previous 11,000 years.
Rising temperatures are having a major impact on the ocean, causing extreme consequences. Among the most significant ones related to climate change are:
- sea level rise, mostly caused by thermal expansion ( a phenomenon whereby water expands as it warms), and melting of glaciers and ice caps.
- acidification of water due to excess carbon dioxide increasingly concentrated in the atmosphere as a result of man's incessant use of fossil fuels.
According to a National Geographic study, sea levels will rise 30 cm by 2050. Considering that 2/3 of the world's entire population lives within 60 km of coastlines, if the predictions turn out to be correct, this would generate an unprecedented phenomenon of climate migration.
Carbon dioxide released by greenhouse gases tends to remain in the atmosphere for very long periods, contributing to global warming.
In this scenario, the oceans make a large contribution: they absorb about 25 percent of all excess CO2 each year, and in the past 100 years about 30 percent of carbon dioxide has been captured.
This function has helped keep the earth's temperatures within an acceptable level, allowing humans to thrive despite the massive use of highly polluting substances. However, the benefits of these activities have been solely for the benefit of humans, to the detriment of the entire marine ecosystem.
{summary#bullet-4}
Ocean acidification: what it's all about
This large-scale "cleaning" of the air has increased the concentration of carbon dioxide in the seas, also raising their acidification levels, with sometimes catastrophic consequences for marine life.
The biggest sufferers are especially species with calcium carbonate shells, which weaken at the slightest change in ocean acidity, as well as oysters and corals.
A recent study published in the journal Nature showed how 90 percent of ocean life faces extinction by the end of the century. The enormous biodiversity of marine ecosystems are therefore particularly at risk, affecting the food chain of billions of animals.
Not only that, it is also at the expense of humans: coral reefs are crucial to the protection of coastlines, ensuring their protection from erosion.
{summary#bullet-5}
Companies and ocean conservation
In an effort to mitigate human impact on the environment, the activities to be implemented are varied.
As a company, there are several avenues you can take to counter climate change and support the oceans: the first step is definitely to adopt sustainability policies in and encourage environmentally friendly behaviors, such as reducing the use of plastics.
In addition to this, companies can fund certified environmental projects to protect marine and coastal ecosystems, such as the Delta Blue Carbon project: this is an offsetting project that consists of the largest mangrove reforestation action in the world.
This particular type of plant is able to capture a high amount of CO₂ (ten times more than a traditional tree), but at the same time it requires special conditions to survive: it requires contact with seawater and a tropical climate.
A mangrove forest is able to protect the coast from storms and flooding, feed fish and animals, and make the surrounding environment free from the harmful effects of UV-B radiation.
The carbon credits generated by the project are generated precisely by growing and preserving plants, allowing on the one hand to counter climate change by absorbing CO₂, and on the other hand to protect the related marine habitat.
Interested in learning more about the Delta Blue Carbon offsetting project? Click the link below and find out all the details.
Learn more about the Delta Blue Carbon project
