Greenbiz.com shared an article, Ocean-based climate solutions are an important and overlooked pathway by Eliza Northrop & Mario Finch that outlined four ways in which changes in our relationship with the world’s oceans can help mitigate and reverse climate destruction.

The short version is this:

Ocean ecosystems serve as the largest carbon sink in the world. Blue carbon ecosystems — namely mangroves, salt marshes and seagrasses — are valuable habitats for sequestering and storing carbon. Estimates indicate that these ecosystems can sequester more than double the carbon per area than terrestrial forests.

Fisheries are highly energy-intensive and emissions from fishing vessel fuel use are the largest contributor to ocean and coastal fisheries-related greenhouse gas emissions. 

For many coastal or island countries, ocean-based renewable energy — such as offshore wind (fixed or floating), tidal, current or floating solar energy technologies — represents the most viable opportunity to significantly expand renewable energy capacity.

Ocean transport accounts for about 2.5 percent of global emissions.

By taking advantage of improved efficiencies and low- or no-carbon technologies, focusing on water-based solutions as well as land-based ones can improve our chances to reverse climate degradation before it’s too late.

A WRITING PROMPT FROM ME TO YOU: Write about water.

MA