The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently presented a Summary for Policymakers of the “Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate” that was approved by the 195 IPCC member governments on Tuesday, Sept. 24.
The report addresses the impacts of a changing climate on the ocean and cryosphere (frozen components of the Earth system) by focusing on observed physical changes and impacts on ecosystems, people, and ecosystem services; projected physical changes and risks for ecosystems, people, and ecosystem services; and implementing responses to ocean and cryosphere change.
In a press release, IPCC noted that the report highlights “the urgency of prioritizing timely, ambitious and coordinated action to address unprecedented and enduring changes in the ocean and cryosphere.” It further states that the report provides “new evidence for the benefits of limiting global warming to the lowest possible level,” adding that “[u]rgently reducing greenhouse gas emissions limits the scale of ocean and cryosphere changes.”
To adapt to and mitigate the effects of a changing climate on the ocean and cryosphere, the report offers support for taking actions including the following:
- Protection and restoration, including establishment of networks of protected areas, terrestrial and marine habitat restoration, restoration of vegetated coastal ecosystems, assisted species relocation, and coral gardening
- Strengthening precautionary approaches, such as through rebuilding fisheries
- Supporting ocean renewable energy, utilizing precautionary, ecosystem-based management of renewable resource use
- Reduction of pollution and other stressors, including through urgent and ambitious emissions reductions
- Integrated water management
- Responding to sea level rise through protection, accommodation, ecosystem-based adaptation, and coastal advance and retreat
- Education and climate literacy efforts, monitoring and forecasting, use of all knowledge sources, data, information, and knowledge sharing, finance, addressing social vulnerability and equity, and institutional support
- Regional cooperation and institutional arrangements to support adaptation action
Following the report’s release, U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) introduced a resolution expressing the need for immediate climate action in response to the report. Co-sponsored by 43 Democrats, the resolution was referred to the House Committees on Energy & Commerce, Foreign Affairs, Natural Resources, and Science, Space, & Technology.
Among other things, the resolution expresses support for designing marine protected areas “that safeguard ecosystems,” “permanently safeguarding our coasts from offshore oil and gas drilling,” investing in marine renewable energy, strengthening, restoring, and protecting wetlands, supporting maritime industry and port electrification, advancing the exploration of the sequestration potential of the deep sea, and strengthening scientific research and monitoring to improve adaptation efforts.
That same day, U.S. Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) introduced a similar resolution recognizing the report’s findings and committing to supporting ocean-centric solutions to the climate crisis and policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Co-sponsored by Sen.’s Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Cory Booker (D-NJ), the resolution was referred to the Senate Commerce, Science, & Transportation Committee.
