Our Oceans Have Been Bombed

In the past 25 years, the oceans have absorbed heat equivalent to the energy of 3.6 billion Hiroshima-size atom bomb explosion. When the scientists compared ocean temperature data from the last three decades (1987-2019) to the three decades before that (1955-1986), they found the rate of warming had increased 450 percent, "reflecting a major increase in the rate of global climate change.”  Water takes much more energy to heat up than air, that translates to a temperature increase.

BUT WHY ARE OCEANS SO IMPORTANT?

Our oceans are vital to our existence. It provides us 50% of the oxygen we need to breathe and holds 97% of the planets water. They absorb 30% of the carbon dioxide produced by humans, buffering the impacts of global warming. However, with each passing year, we continue to record the highest temperatures yet. And the warming is not slowing down.

Source: NOAA

The surface of the ocean is warming up faster than it did a few decades ago, and that rate is likely to increase in the future. A recent international study revealed that “by the end of the century, assuming we have a high-emissions future, there is not only much greater surface warming, but also this warmth will penetrate deeper,” Mr. Brito-Morales said.

As animals living in the deep ocean are more exposed to climate warming they will face increasing challenges to maintain their preferred thermal habitats in the future. Because these creatures are adapted to stable thermal environments, the rapid acceleration of temperature will likely put deep sea biodiversity at risk.

In addition to the consequences that can be felt within the deep sea, rising ocean heat has accelerated the rate of sea level rise.

SEA LEVEL RISE

Across the 20th century, sea level rise was caused mainly by melting glaciers and the expansion of ocean water as it warms. But over the last two decades the main driver has become the melting of Earth's two ice sheets.

Earth’s great ice sheets, Greenland and Antarctica, are now losing mass six times faster than they were in the 1990s due to warming conditions. A new study by NASA shows that Antarctica and Greenland's ice sheets lost 118 gigatons and 200 gigatons of ice on average per year. That would fill more than 127 million Olympic-sized swimming pools.

“Today, the ice sheets contribute about a third of all sea-level rise, whereas in the 1990s, their contribution was actually pretty small at about 5 per cent. This has important implications for the future, for coastal flooding and erosion,” says Professor Andrew Shepherd from the University of Leeds. 

New scientific research has proved that previous estimates of sea level rise were far too optimistic. Scientists have developed a more accurate way of measuring this sea level rise and have shown that globally, 150 million people are now living on land will be at risk for extreme flooding. Based on the new calculations this is what Shanghai would look in 2050.

Source: New York Times

Within Asia, countries like China, India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, Thailand, and Myanmar are extremely vulnerable to sea level rise. High risk cities in China include Guangzhou, Shanghai and Dongguan. 

OCEAN CONSERVATION IN CHINA

China has been a vocal supporter of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, specifically #14 which is focused on ocean conservation. This support is perhaps most tangible in China’s current five-year plan, one of the nation’s most important policy instruments. The plan outlines that 70% of coastal waters should be of Class I or II quality by 2020, compared to 50% in 2004. Furthermore, redlines have been proposed among several coastal zones. These redlines will divide coastal waters into zones where development is banned, and those where it is permitted with restriction.

On 16 July 2018, the European Union signed a unique ocean partnership agreement with China. Two of the world’s largest ocean economies will work together to improve the international governance of the oceans in aspects including, combating illegal fishing, fighting against marine plastic litter and microplastic, and conserving Antarctic marine living resources.

Source: Sea News

While our government has made to policies and commitments to ocean protection, it is our duty to step up and take individualized actions as well as influence others to advance our environmental efforts. 

WHAT YOU CAN DO FROM HOME

Focus on your plastic use

• Some of Rendu's main projects include beach cleanups, marine litter monitoring, marine education and network building. 

• In 2016 Rendu and its partners won an award for protection of water environments for its work on the China Coastal Litter Cleanup and Monitoring Project, with experts praising the technical level of its work on marine litter.

2. CHINA BLUE SUSTAINABILITY INSTITUTE: www.chinabluesustainability.org

• A nonprofit focused on sustainable fishing and responsible aquaculture

• Developed iFish, a marine product sustainability database used by customers including Disney and Chinese retail chains

• Work to encourage fishermen and businesses to explore and implement environmentally-friendly models of development

3. SHENZHEN BLUE OCEAN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ASSOCIATION: http://www.szboca.org/

• One of very few Chinese organizations able to carry out seabed cleanups and monitoring thanks to its background in the diving community and cooperation with diving groups.

• They are focused on marine litter, conservation, environmental education

4. SHANGHAI NARWAL OCEAN RESEARCH CENTER

• Founded in 2017, their work revolves mainly around research and education on plastic pollutions, specifically microplastics within the ocean.

• Have given talks at 100+ universities around China and organinzed beach cleanups.

5. GUANGDONG WETLAND CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION: www.gdwetland.org

• GWCA is a local nonprofit focused on education about Guangdong’s coastal wetlands.

• They work in partnership with the educational authorities, and facilitates the inclusion of environmental knowledge in textbooks to be used in the classroom and uses extracurricular activities to reach middle and elementary schools. 

6. IN SHARKS WE TRUST: www.insharkswetrust.com/2019

• A swimwear company founded by Miao Wang which uses reclaimed fishnets to design premium swimwear

• All profits are 100% dedicated to shark conservation

• Customers can order from online and the store ships internationally

WORLD OCEANS DAY

World Oceans Day, celebrated every year on June 8 was originally suggested as an international day of celebration and awareness in 1992 by the government of Canada. By 2008, the United Nations had officially recognized it. Since then, people around the world celebrate the day by focusing attention on awareness and recognition of the importance of taking care of our oceans.

The theme of UN World Oceans Day 2020 is “Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean.” Innovation—relating to the introduction of new methods, ideas, or products—is a dynamic term, and one that is fundamentally filled with hope. 

Source: United Nations

This year's theme is especially relevant in the lead-up to the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, which will run from 2021 to 2030. The Decade will strengthen international cooperation to develop the scientific research and innovative technologies that can connect ocean science with the needs of society. 

For more information, or to find an event, visit: www.WorldOceansDay.org.

CHASING ICE FILM SCREENING

As climate awareness becomes increasingly important, Green Initiatives will be hosting a film screening of Chasing Ice on June 16. This documentary is shot by National Geographic environmental photographer James Balog. His task? To capture images to help tell the story of the Earth’s changing climate. 

Even with a scientific upbringing, Balog had been a skeptic about climate change. But that first trip north opened his eyes to the biggest story in human history and sparked a challenge within him that would put his career and his very well-being at risk. 

Chasing Ice is a story of one man’s mission to change the tide of history by gathering undeniable evidence of our changing planet. A film comprising of breathtaking photography and visuals, Chasing Ice depicts a photographer trying to deliver evidence and hope to our carbon-powered planet.

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