There are so many reasons why we need to keep our Ocean healthy. As well as being home to roughly 94% of all the Earth's living species, our Ocean provides food for billions of people and income for millions.

It also produces around half of all the oxygen we breathe and absorbs over half of all man-made carbon dioxide, making it a huge carbon capture sink. We need our Ocean to survive. However, it is under threat. Here are a few threats that have been identified for our Ocean caused by the climate crisis. 

1. Coral Bleaching 

Coral bleaching has increased globally. It has increased from 8% to 31% in the past 4 decades.

2. Rising Sea Levels 

Thermal expansion and melting ice caps are the main causes of the global sea level rise. This would threaten the lives and livelihoods of between 150 to 250 million people.

3. Warmer Ocean Water

Warmer Ocean water holds less oxygen. Ocean oxygen levels, decreased by 2% in the past 5 decades.

4. Carbon Storage

Mangroves, seagrass meadows and salt marshes are, 10X more effective at storing CO2 than forests. Half of the world’s wetlands and mangroves have been removed through coastal development. These ecosystems are invaluable to our survival.

5. Acidification

Since the Industrial Revolution, the acidity of our Ocean has increased roughly by 30%. This makes it harder for marine organisms, such as corals, oysters and pteropods to form shells and skeletons.

6. Sea Ice

Sea ice in the polar regions covers about 15% of the global Ocean. Sea ice in the polar regions covers about 15% of the global Ocean.

We must take steps to protect our Ocean. Click here to find out what you can do. 

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