Ocean and Climate Report (2021)

Climate change is the most unprecedented environmental crisis our blue planet faces; affecting communities, ecosystems and species worldwide and ultimately threatening all life on Earth.

From ocean warming and acidification to biodiversity loss and mass migration, the impacts of climate change on the ocean are extreme and far reaching; as a global climate regulator, the deterioration of ocean health will only heighten the effects of climate change. However, through restoration and rewilding, the marine environment can thrive again and provide the natural mechanisms to help mitigate climate change and ensure protection against the climatic changes we can no longer prevent. Although they are among the fastest disappearing ecosystems in the world, blue carbon habitats, such as kelp forests and seagrass, have the potential to extract and store a vast amount of carbon dioxide and therefore, play a pivotal role in addressing the climate crisis.

It is vital that we understand and acknowledge the symbiotic relationship between the ocean and climate. The findings from The Ocean and Climate Survey reveal that 89% of the public are extremely concerned about the climate emergency and around 97% are aware of the impact it is having on our blue planet.

The scientific evidence, public call for action, and numerous ocean recovery initiatives highlight an indisputable need for the ocean to be at the centre of the climate movement. As much as we depend on all blue spaces for our mental and physical well-being, the ocean now depends on us for its survival; and as we step into the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, we must come together to shout for the ocean, before it is too late.

Read the report