Ocean as a victim of Climate Change and a key solution

Climate change has been disrupting the life on Earth and it is reaching a point of irreversible change.
One thing that has been affected by climate change the most is the Ocean, which has been treated as a
resource by us and we have completely disregarded the importance of the ocean in making life on Earth
possible for us. Oceans cover 71% of the planet and provides many services to human communities,
from the food we eat to the oxygen we breathe (Ocean and climate change 2021). They regulate the
global climate and they are the world’s largest store of carbon as they store 90% of the carbon from the
atmosphere (Freestone, 2009). The oceans play a fundamental role in mitigating climate change by
serving as a major heat and carbon sink, however, the ocean has become a victim of climate change as
the carbon sink capacity of the ocean has exceeded and the ocean is suffering from the effects of
climate change (Ocean and climate change 2021). The importance of oceans for sustainable
development has been widely recognized by the international community especially in the Sustainable
Development Goal 14: “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for
sustainable development.” (We are all ocean citizens). Therefore, the ocean is a victim of climate change
and a key solution in mitigating climate change.

The ocean has been affected by climate change as the temperature of the ocean is rising and the
ocean acidification is occurring. The increased emissions of greenhouse gases from human activity
includes carbon dioxide and most of the carbon dioxide is absorbed by the ocean which causes a
chemical reaction, leading to reduced pH of water and reduced carbonate ion concentration. This
process is known as ocean acidification. Corals rely on calcium carbonate to build their skeletons and
corals provide half of the oxygen on land so when ocean acidification results in low amount of calcium
carbonate in the ocean, the corals are unable to build their skeletons. The ocean has absorbed around
30% of the human-induced carbon emissions which has been causing ocean acidification and rising the
temperature of the water as well. As oceans become warmer due to the heat trapped from greenhouse
gas emissions, the water expands leading to sea levels rising which has resulted in migration of species.
The coral is being affected by the high-water temperature as well as it is causing the coral to expel algae
living inside their tissues resulting in the process called coral bleaching (How does climate change affect
oceans? 2019). Scientists have estimated that if the current rates of temperature increase continue, the
ocean will become too warm for the coral reefs by 2050 (How climate change relates to Oceans). The
ocean acidification and rising temperatures of the ocean is disrupting the ecosystem of the ocean which
is necessary for providing and maintaining life on Earth.

The plastic pollution in the ocean is harming the marine life and disrupting the ecosystem of the
ocean. At least 8 million tons of plastic waste is thrown into the oceans every year and plastic pollution
at sea is estimated to double by 2030 (Plastic waste and climate change - what's the connection?). The
production of plastic itself contributes to the greenhouse gas emissions and once produced, the sunlight
and heat cause the plastic to produce harmful greenhouse gases, which increases the rate of climate
change. Once the plastic enters the oceans, it harms the marine animals as it traps and chokes them to
death. Planktons and many fish consume the microplastics as they mistake it for food, which threatens
their life. The microplastics threaten the population of planktons as they play an important role in taking
carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and water and sequestering in the deep ocean sinks. Planktons
produce a significant portion of the oxygen that we breathe and they are also the base of the food chain
so their declining numbers means that there will be less oxygen and also the entire ecosystem will be
disrupted as they form the base of the food web (Johnson, 2019). The plastic pollution in the ocean is
harming the marine life and contributing in climate change. This concludes that the ocean is a victim of
climate change due to the drastic effects of climate change on the ocean

However, the ocean is a key solution in mitigating climate change as addressing the impact of
climate change on the ocean would help in fighting climate change. Once we begin to restore and
protect the ocean species and habitats such as seagrasses, salt marshes, mangroves and corals, it will
help the ocean to regenerate and provide the services on which all life depends. Protecting and
restoring the ocean habitats can sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere at rates up to four
times higher than terrestrial forests can (Searles Jones, 2019). As humans, we can significantly reduce
greenhouse gas emissions and plastic production which will give the ocean an opportunity to regenerate
itself. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the industries responsible for the emissions will need to be
targeted such as the plastic production industry which uses up fossil fuels and produces huge amounts
of greenhouse gases. Once the businesses and industries responsible for the greenhouse gas emissions
are shut down or use alternate ways of production that are not releasing greenhouse gases, only then
there can be a significant reduction in greenhouse gases. This will then reduce the load of absorbing the
carbon dioxide from the ocean and allow the process of healing to commence. The ocean has the ability
to fight climate change and become a solution for climate change.

In conclusion, the ocean has been severely affected by climate change and it is one of the
victims of climate change as the ocean is facing ocean acidification, plastic pollution and rising water
temperature. Although, it is a victim but the ocean can play a part in the solution as it has the ability to
regenerate and continue to provide the services for life on earth. Protecting the ocean and addressing
the impact of climate change on the ocean can significantly help in moving towards a solution to climate
change. Therefore, it is necessary that the ocean is taken into consideration while discussing the issue of
climate change to reach a definite solution.
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