The oceans are in a \u201cdeepening crisis\u201d, a UN report has warned,\ndemanding urgent global action. In research conducted by 600\ninternational scientists across 1,352 pages, ocean temperatures are\nwarming and rising faster. Ice sheets are also shrinking, and marine\necosystems are under increasing pressure.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ocean is the foundation of life on Earth,\u201d said the UN\u2019s World\nOcean Assessment (WOA) III. \u201cBut its health is at serious risk as\necosystems and habitats approach or exceed tipping points. The crisis is\ndeepening, because climate change, pollution, overfishing, and\nbiodiversity loss are placing severe strain on marine systems.\u201d<\/p>\n
The report, which largely covers the period between 2018 and 2023,\npaints a bleak picture of the state of the oceans. About 16% of the\ntotal increase in ocean heat content recorded since 1955 has occurred\nsince 2018 alone. The oceans have absorbed more than 90% of the excess\nheat and 30% of the CO2 released into the atmosphere from burning fossil\nfuels.<\/p>\n
As water warms, it expands, helping drive sea-level rise alongside\nmeltwater from glaciers and ice sheets. \u201cSea levels continue to rise at\nan accelerating rate,\u201d the report stated, more than doubling from less\nthan 2.0 millimetres per year before 2015 to 4.3 mm in 2023.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough millimetres might seem small, the numbers are increasing\nvery rapidly,\u201d said Ian Butler, an Australia-based marine ecologist and\nco-coordinator of the WOA expert group. The researchers therefore\ndemanded urgent action through stronger multilateral cooperation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe cannot continue to treat the ocean as something infinite,\u201d UN\nSecretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement. \u201cWe must build a\nnew relationship with the ocean: based on science, framed by\ninternational law, and built on shared responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n
Deep-Sea Mining<\/p>\n
The report highlighted growing concerns about deep-sea mining and\ncalled for a coordinated international response. Although exploration\nfor deep-sea mining is well advanced, no company or country has yet\nbegun commercial-scale production. Critics worry it would suffocate\nmarine life with waste, whilst the noise from heavy machinery would\ndisrupt ocean migration.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/oceans-in-deepening-crisis-latest-evidence-reveals-1781017010", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }