ABC (Australia) ocean acidification movie

Effects of climate change on the World’s oceans

Climate change is the most important threat to the Earth. Even if we stabilize CO2 concentrations, the 2007 IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) Assessment confirms that warming will continue for decades and sea level will continue to rise for centuries. Some direct effects of climate change in the marine environment are already visible, but others need to be defined by enhanced observations, analysis and modelling. We have a rudimentary understanding of the sensitivity and adaptability of natural and managed ecosystems to climate change. An assessment of the consequences of climate change on the World’s Oceans has a high scientific and social relevance and is urgently needed.