The ocean is our best chance to survive climate change

The ocean regulates the climate by absorbing 93% of excess heat and 30% of human-generated carbon dioxide, while producing over half of the planet's oxygen. To avoid a projected 3°C global warming scenario, the author advocates for a sustainable ocean economy incorporating blue carbon ecosystem restoration, offshore wind, marine carbon dioxide removal, and green shipping. Recent international milestones include the Global Biodiversity Framework's goal to protect 30% of the planet by 2030 and the High Seas Treaty. However, the author emphasizes that these agreements must be ratified and implemented, alongside a cessation of fossil fuel combustion, to ensure intergenerational justice and planetary survival.

• The ocean plays a critical role in climate regulation and life support, absorbing 93% of the planet's excess heat and approximately 30% of carbon dioxide produced by humans, while generating more than 50% of the world's oxygen.
• A sustainable ocean economy offers multiple pathways for climate mitigation and adaptation, specifically through the restoration of blue carbon ecosystems (mangroves, seagrasses, and coral reefs), the deployment of offshore wind and marine carbon dioxide removal, and the transition to green shipping.
• Several global initiatives have been established to protect marine environments, including the Global Biodiversity Framework's target to protect 30% of the planet by 2030 and the Marine Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction High Seas Treaty for managing international waters.
• Current forecasts suggest the world is on track for approximately 3°C of global warming, a scenario the author describes as an "unacceptable world" of famine, fire, and storms, necessitating a pivot toward ocean science and the end of fossil fuel use.

APA

Thomson, P. (2023). The ocean is our best chance to survive climate change. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/nature-and-biodiversity/ocean-survive-climate-change/

Chicago

Thomson, Peter. The ocean is our best chance to survive climate change. World Economic Forum, 2023. https://www.weforum.org/stories/nature-and-biodiversity/ocean-survive-climate-change/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Thomson |first1=Peter |title=The ocean is our best chance to survive climate change |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=8 December 2023 |url=https://www.weforum.org/stories/nature-and-biodiversity/ocean-survive-climate-change/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{thomson2023ocean, author = {Thomson, Peter}, title = {{The ocean is our best chance to survive climate change}}, publisher = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2023}, month = dec, url = {https://www.weforum.org/stories/nature-and-biodiversity/ocean-survive-climate-change/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }