Oceans

As global temperatures rise, so do ocean temperatures. Coral reefs bleach and die, species are forced to migrate to cooler waters, and delicate ecosystems fall out of balance. We’re already living through the worst coral bleaching event ever recorded.^[12]

The ocean absorbs CO₂ from the air, but too much of it turns the water more acidic. The biggest victims are species that build shells or skeletons out of calcium carbonate - like corals, oysters, clams, and microscopic plankton. In more acidic water, their shells weaken or could even fail to form at all, threatening the foundation of ocean food webs and the health of entire ecosystems.^[13]

Melting ice sheets and warming seas are causing sea levels to rise. Coastal communities are already seeing more floods and disappearing land, and the natural locations of mangroves, saltmarshes, and seabirds are being washed away.

A hotter planet means more energy in the atmosphere, and therefore stronger, more frequent storms. Hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones are becoming more destructive, hitting coastlines harder than ever and disrupting lives.^[14]

Tiny pieces of plastic, called microplastics, are now everywhere, from the deepest trenches to the fish in our oceans. Marine animals mistake them for food, and we’re still learning what that means for their health - and for our own.^[15]

From oil and gas to rare minerals, industries are turning to the deep sea in search of untapped resources. But these remote ecosystems are among the most fragile and least understood on Earth. With limited research and oversight, large-scale extraction could cause irreversible damage to habitats that have evolved over millions of years.^[16]

Overfishing has pushed many species to the brink. From once-abundant cod to prized tuna, fish populations collapse, it doesn’t just hurt the ocean, it threatens food security and coastal economies worldwide.^[17]

The accidental capture of species like dolphins, turtles, and seabirds – called ‘bycatch’ - is one of the biggest threats to marine species worldwide. Fortunately, with targeted improvements to fishing techniques, bycatch can be significantly reduced - helping protect marine life while supporting more sustainable fisheries.

Spills are environmental disasters that take years - sometimes decades - to recover from. Even small leaks can have a large impact.

The ocean is on the frontlines of climate change - not just suffering the impacts, but also absorbing our emissions. However, this service comes at an increasing cost, with sea-surface temperatures, rising to record highs and causing ‘marine heatwaves’ - underwater heat spikes that can lead to coral bleaching, disrupt fish migrations, harm kelp forests, and reduce oxygen levels in the water.