The decline of marine ecosystems alters their climate regulatory function

The decline of marine ecosystems is altering the ocean as a regulator of climate and it is essential to advance in a new legal framework focused on the conservation of biodiversity in the International Waters Treaty, which is expected to end “successfully in March 2022 ″.

It has been explained by the experts on ocean issues from the United States’ Pew Charitable Trusts, Liz Karan and Masha Kalinina, who have shown optimism about the negotiations taking place at COP26 in Glasgow, where the III Declaration has been promoted. “Because the Ocean”.

Signed at the University of Edinburgh, the Declaration calls for the protection of the ocean, advocates the reduction of emissions from maritime transport and the promotion of clean energy on the high seas; and calls on the countries of the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate to adopt measures to recognize the link between the ocean, climate and biodiversity in order to implement the Paris Agreement.

The III “Because the Ocean” has been endorsed by Prince Albert II of Monaco; the Chilean Minister of the Environment and president of COP25, Carolina Schmidt; the Secretary General of the South Pacific Forum, Henry Puna; the Minister of Climate, Environment, Sustainable Development and the Green Deal of Belgium, Zakia Khattabi; together with ministers and ambassadors from Australia, Colombia, Spain, the Dominican Republic, Fiji, France, Indonesia, Ireland, Panama, Seychelles and Sweden.

Not surprisingly, the ocean absorbs more than 25% of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and 90% of excess heat caused by global warming.

But to preserve it, greater climate ambition is needed in its protection with public and private financing, including multilateral development banks, climate funds or official development aid.

Liz Karan, Director of the “Protecting Ocean Life on the High Seas” project in Philadelphia (EE.UU.), has underlined the importance of the ocean in the absorption of gases, but has warned that the decline of its ecosystems is altering its work as a climate regulator.

Among the greatest impacts, he explained, is the circulation of thousands of merchant ships through its international waters, as well as fishing boats, two of the industrial activities that are “stressing” marine life.

The solution at this moment is in the negotiations in United Nations to achieve a new legal framework focused on the conservation of biodiversity.

The key to the new treaty is to “establish sufficient mechanisms for a sustainable ocean” and provide it with “sufficient funding for its implementation.”

Today we can see “the results of inaction for its conservation,” said Karan, who recalls that there are millions of people who depend on it for food and their economic livelihood.

Governments must be aware that they have an opportunity to protect their resources and maintain the resilience of their seabed with future generations in mind, said the PEW Charitable Trusts expert.

Masha Kalinina, who leads the 30×30 initiative of the Convention for Biological Diversity in the US entity, has emphasized the importance of reducing emissions to avoid warming and acidification of the sea.

With the creation of Marine Protected Areas (MPA) “we give space and the possibility for the ocean to recover.”

From PEW they have recalled that the high seas area plays a fundamental role in building the ocean’s resilience to the impacts of climate change, with an estimated storage value of carbon from $ 74 billion to $ 220 billion per year.

And although only 1% of the international waters in the high seas are protected, they represent 95% of the Earth’s habitat and scientists assure that there are still millions of species to be discovered in its waters.

Despite the obvious connection between the ocean, climate and biodiversity, it was only after COP25 held in Madrid under the Chilean presidency that oceans were truly integrated into the work of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.