Bridging the gap : regulating climate change and its impacts on ocean life

Abstract

Scientific evidence demonstrates that the effects of climate change upon the oceans will lead to biological, chemical and physical changes with dire environmental and geopolitical repercussions. The impacts of climate change upon the oceans, namely their warming, sea level rise, ocean acidification and resultant marine biodiversity loss have been consistently highlighted in various scientific reports. Experts, scholars and academic networks from various disciplines have raised awareness on the multifaceted and complex relationship between oceans, marine living resources and climate change. In political fora, climate change is often referred to as a threat multiplier. Earth scientists describe how the climate and oceans relationship accentuates the complexities of the natural world providing a classic example of how planetary boundaries, such as global warming, ocean acidification and marine biodiversity loss, interact to exacerbate the negative impacts caused by human behaviour. Outcomes from conferences and even applicable treaties acknowledge that a cross sectoral and an integrated, ecosystem approach is key to achieve sound governance of these natural resources.