Oceans & Climate Change
The planet’s great shield
The ocean has quietly absorbed most of the heat and much of the carbon from a warming world — protecting the land, but paying the price in warming, rising and acidifying seas. Here is what is happening, and how we can help.
~90%
of excess heat absorbed
The ocean has soaked up more than 90% of the extra heat trapped by greenhouse gases, shielding the land — but warming and expanding as it does.
~30%
more acidic
As the sea absorbs carbon dioxide it turns more acidic — up about 30% since the industrial era — making it harder for corals and shellfish to build their skeletons.
~20 cm
sea-level rise since 1900
Melting ice and warming, expanding water have raised the sea about 20 cm in a century — and the rise is speeding up, threatening coasts worldwide.
30 by 30
the global ocean goal
Nations have pledged to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030. Well-run marine protected areas let fish, reefs and whole ecosystems bounce back.
Protecting the ocean
The good news is that the ocean is remarkably resilient. Given space and protection, fish stocks, coral reefs and whole ecosystems can bounce back — and the world is finally acting to give them that chance.
- The “30x30” pledge aims to safeguard 30% of the world’s ocean as protected areas by 2030.
- The largest marine reserves now shield entire island-nation seas larger than many countries.
- Cutting plastic waste and overfishing gives reefs, turtles and fish stocks room to recover.
- Blue carbon — mangroves, seagrass and salt marsh — locks away carbon faster than rainforests.