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ClimateQuiet 7d · day 11

UN report: ocean's capacity to absorb carbon dioxide has fallen about 6%

A UNEP-UNFCCC study ahead of COP31 warns that warming, acidification and pollution are degrading the ocean's role as the planet's biggest carbon sink.

newest coverage 7d agosummary written 7d ago6 pieces125 likes & upvotes MastodonNewswiresBluesky

What to know

  • A joint UNEP-UNFCCC report finds the ocean's capacity to absorb human-caused CO₂ has already fallen by about six percent due to warming, acidification and ecosystem disruption.
  • The ocean normally absorbs around 30% of human CO₂ emissions and 90% of excess heat from greenhouse gases, making the decline significant for global climate projections.
  • The report, released ahead of COP31, urges investment in ocean monitoring, protection of blue carbon ecosystems (mangroves, seagrasses, salt marshes), and cautious regulation of marine carbon dioxide removal technology.
  • Small Island Developing States, which emit less than 1% of global emissions, are highlighted as most exposed to ocean and climate impacts and most in need of finance and technology support.

“As of now, we don't have full information about the ocean, and what we don't know, we cannot manage and protect”

Sara Traerup, Lead author of the UN report · UN News via AllAfrica ↗ · Oct 27

Sara Traerup Lead author of the UN reportUNEP UN Environment ProgrammeUNFCCC UN climate secretariat, co-organiser of COP31

How it unfolded 3 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 4 pieces in 3h at Oct 28, 8 AM; 6 pieces over 11 days (2 articles · 4 posts) Oct 28, 8 AM — 4 pieces · 2 articles · 2 posts — Newswires 2, Mastodon 1, Bluesky 1Oct 28, 11 AM — quietOct 28, 2 PM — quietOct 28, 5 PM — quietOct 28, 8 PM — quietOct 28, 11 PM — quietOct 29, 2 AM — quietOct 29, 5 AM — quietOct 29, 8 AM — quietOct 29, 11 AM — quietOct 29, 2 PM — quietOct 29, 5 PM — quietOct 29, 8 PM — quietOct 29, 11 PM — quietOct 30, 2 AM — quietOct 30, 5 AM — quietOct 30, 8 AM — quietOct 30, 11 AM — quietOct 30, 2 PM — quietOct 30, 5 PM — quietOct 30, 8 PM — quietOct 30, 11 PM — quietOct 31, 2 AM — quietOct 31, 5 AM — quietOct 31, 8 AM — quietOct 31, 11 AM — quietOct 31, 2 PM — quietOct 31, 5 PM — quietOct 31, 8 PM — quietOct 31, 11 PM — quietNov 1, 1 AM — quietNov 1, 4 AM — 2 pieces · 2 posts — Bluesky 1, Mastodon 1Nov 1, 7 AM — quietNov 1, 10 AM — quietNov 1, 1 PM — quietNov 1, 4 PM — quietNov 1, 7 PM — quietNov 1, 10 PM — quietNov 2, 1 AM — quietNov 2, 4 AM — quietNov 2, 7 AM — quietNov 2, 10 AM — quietNov 2, 1 PM — quietNov 2, 4 PM — quietNov 2, 7 PM — quietNov 2, 10 PM — quietNov 3, 1 AM — quietNov 3, 4 AM — quietNov 3, 7 AM — quietNov 3, 10 AM — quietNov 3, 1 PM — quietNov 3, 4 PM — quietNov 3, 7 PM — quietNov 3, 10 PM — quietNov 4, 1 AM — quietNov 4, 4 AM — quietNov 4, 7 AM — quietNov 4, 10 AM — quietNov 4, 1 PM — quietNov 4, 4 PM — quietNov 4, 7 PM — quietNov 4, 10 PM — quietNov 5, 1 AM — quietNov 5, 4 AM — quietNov 5, 7 AM — quietNov 5, 10 AM — quietNov 5, 1 PM — quietNov 5, 4 PM — quietNov 5, 7 PM — quietNov 5, 10 PM — quietNov 6, 1 AM — quietNov 6, 4 AM — quietNov 6, 7 AM — quietNov 6, 10 AM — quietNov 6, 1 PM — quietNov 6, 4 PM — quietNov 6, 7 PM — quietNov 6, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 1 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 1 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietToday, 1 AM — quietToday, 4 AM — quietToday, 7 AM — quietToday, 10 AM — quiet 1–23
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  1. 3

    Social media users flag the report as a warning sign ahead of COP31

    Commentary circulating on Mastodon frames the reported decline in ocean carbon absorption as an urgent signal for negotiators heading into COP31.

    “Can humanity ignore global warming when our largest natural climate shield starts breaking down?”
    — Fife4Europe@mastodon.scot
    • fife4europe.bsky.social

      Can humanity ignore global warming when our largest natural climate shield starts breaking down? UN News reporting that climate change has reduced the ocean’s capacity to absorb carbon by 6% is a devastating warning ahead of COP31. 🤔 #ClimateAction

      fife4europe.bsky.socialBluesky7d ago25▲view on Bluesky ↗
    2 posts in this stretch →
  2. 3 days quiet
  3. 2

    UNEP amplifies the report's findings on social media

    UNEP's official account shares the report's headline findings, reiterating that warming, acidification and pollution are disrupting the ocean's carbon- and heat-absorbing functions, and pointing to the call for better data to guide ocean-based climate technologies.

    “A new UN report calls for better data to guide ocean-based climate technologies…”
    — UNEP
    • unep.org

      The ocean absorbs around 30% of human-induced CO₂ emissions & 90% of excess heat generated by climate change. But factors such as warming, acidification & pollution are disrupting such functions. A new UN report calls for better data to guide ocean-based climate technologies:

      unep.orgBluesky11d ago100▲view on Bluesky ↗
  4. 1

    UN report finds ocean carbon absorption capacity down 6%

    UNEP and UNFCCC publish a report ahead of COP31 showing the ocean, which absorbs about 30% of human-caused CO₂ and 90% of excess heat from greenhouse gases, has lost roughly six percent of its carbon-absorption capacity due to warming, acidification and ecosystem disruption. The report calls for stronger 'ocean carbon intelligence,' investment in ocean monitoring, protection of blue carbon ecosystems such as mangroves and seagrasses, and cautious regulation of marine carbon dioxide removal technologies.

    “For a long time the ocean has been doing us an enormous climate service, but that service is under increasing pressure…”
    — Sara Traerup

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