Oceans are vital for maintaining climate stability and sustaining life on Earth. They regulate global temperatures by absorbing solar energy and distributing heat through ocean currents. Oceans also produce half of the oxygen we breathe and absorb 25% of carbon dioxide emissions, capturing 90% of the excess heat generated by these emissions. Marine habitats can store ten times more carbon per hectare than terrestrial ecosystems.
Climate change significantly impacts the ocean. Increasing emissions are raising water temperatures, leading to more severe storms and heavy rainfall. Higher ocean temperatures cause thermal expansion, and along with melting glaciers, contribute to rising sea levels, threatening over 680 million people living in low-lying coastal areas (nearly 10% of the global population). Additionally, higher temperatures lead to ocean acidification, causing irreversible habitat changes and species decline, jeopardizing food supplies and livelihoods in coastal regions.
Learn more here: https://www.allianz.com/en/economic_research/insights/publications/specials_fmo/240730-sustainable-ocean.html
