COP31: Seas At Risk is calling for urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG)

As world leaders gather at COP31, Seas At Risk is calling for urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) and black carbon emissions to protect marine ecosystems and accelerate a fair transition away from fossil fuels in international shipping.

The latest scientific reports, such as the UNEP Emissions Gap Report, deliver a stark warning: exceeding the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C warming threshold is now inevitable. But how far that temperature rises, and for how long, depends upon governments making the right choices today.

The ocean is one of our biggest allies in the fight against climate change. It absorbs around 90% of the excess heat trapped by GHG, helping to regulate the earth’s climate. However, this comes at an enormous cost: rising ocean temperatures, marine heatwaves, acidification and mounting pressure on marine biodiversity.

Every fraction of a degree of warming increases these risks. Even if global temperatures return to 1.5 degrees after temporarily exceeding it, some damage to the marine environment could be irreversible.

This story was originally published by Hellenic Shipping News. Read the full story at Hellenic Shipping News →