Ocean and climate change

IUCN's work on climate change in the ocean has been centred around furthering understanding the science of climate change threats to the ocean: ocean warming, acidification, deoxygenation, marine heatwaves, as well as the cumulative affects of these individual ocean stressors and the risk this poses to nations and economies around the world. 

As part of IUCN's "science to governance" approach, this scientific understanding forms the bedrock of IUCN's ocean policy work be it through recommendations to delegates to international negotiations or through governments and stakeholders at regional level.

IUCN's related work on oceans

Climate change is severely and rapidly impacting species, ecosystems and people around the globe. Climate change stressors are jeopardizing food security, shoreline protection, the provision of income, livelihood sources and sustainable economic development.

IUCN's work on climate change is focused on:

  • developing and communicating the science of climate change;
  • promoting policies that can reduce emissions and minimise associated impacts;
  • and advocating ...

IUCN's related work on oceans

Climate change is severely and rapidly impacting species, ecosystems and people around the globe. Climate change stressors are jeopardizing food security, shoreline protection, the provision of income, livelihood sources and sustainable economic development.

IUCN's work on climate change is focused on:

  • developing and communicating the science of climate change;
  • promoting policies that can reduce emissions and minimise associated impacts;
  • and advocating nature-based solutions through the protection and restoration of coastal ecosystems

Blue Carbon and Ecosystem-based adaptation are good illustrations of nature-based solutions that IUCN has implemented successfully and strongly recommends.

IUCN also seeks to address climate change through:

  • mitigation measures supported by innovative finance mechanisms,
  • projects on the ground to develop sustainable businesses with private investor appeal,
  • support the broader finance and conservation community with valuable lessons on investment opportunities,
  • investment in coastal protection and management, which brings in turn tangible benefits to local communities that are often heavily dependent on the health and abundance of the marine resources. 

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93% +

of excess heat

Description

from greenhouse gas emissions has been absorbed by the ocean since the 1970s 

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10 x faster

Ocean acidification

Description

occurs approximately ten times faster now than during the last 300 million years

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50%

of oxygen loss
Description

in the ocean is due to temperature increases

IUCN at UN Ocean Conference

IUCN has been participating and contributing since the beginning to UN Ocean Conferences.

The 2022 conference took place in Lisbon from 27 June to 1 July 2022, co-hosted by the Governments of Kenya and Portugal. 

Sea grass in Kenya
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