Our ocean has absorbed more than 90% of excess heat caused by human-driven climate change and a quarter of the carbon dioxide we emit. In simple terms: The ocean has been quietly protecting us from the worst impacts of a warming planet.
But that protection comes at a high cost.
In “Ocean Discovery: Climate and Our Ocean,” actor and Protect Where We Play Team Ocean Captain John Slattery sits down with Ocean Conservancy’s Vice President of Climate Fatima Candace Vahlsing to explore what’s happening beneath the surface—and what we can do about it.
The ocean is the climate story.
We often think about climate change as an atmospheric story, but the ocean is the engine of our climate system. It regulates temperatures, drives weather patterns and produces roughly half of the oxygen we breathe. And right now, that engine is under enormous pressure.
Currently, we’re facing a triple planetary crisis: The ocean is warming, becoming more acidic and experiencing rising sea levels. These aren’t distant or abstract problems. They’re measurable changes with consequences we can already see.
Take coral reefs. They support roughly one-quarter of all marine species, but when ocean temperatures rise, corals can bleach and, if the stress continues, ultimately die. Today, 77% of the world’s reef areas have experienced bleaching-level heat stress.
Ocean acidification is another consequence of our changing climate. As the ocean absorbs carbon dioxide, seawater becomes more acidic. Ocean acidity has increased by about 30% since the Industrial Revolution, making it harder for animals like oysters, clams, sea urchins and some plankton to build and maintain their shells and skeletons.
When the foundation of the ocean’s food web and ecosystem is disrupted like this, the effects ripple outward—to fish and wildlife, to coastal communities and ultimately to all of us.
This is a human story, too.
For hundreds of millions of people around the world, a healthy ocean is inseparable from food, livelihoods and culture. Coastal fishing communities, small island nations and Indigenous communities are among those facing some of the most immediate impacts, despite contributing comparatively little to the climate crisis. Here in the United States, rising sea levels are already making high-tide flooding more common.
That’s why understanding the science matters. The numbers tell us what’s happening. They also point us toward where we need to act.
The ocean can be part of the solution.
The good news is that this story doesn’t end with what’s going wrong. Protecting important ocean areas, like mangroves, marshes and wetlands, can give ecosystems room to recover. Clean ocean energy, including responsibly developed offshore wind, can help reduce the greenhouse gas pollution driving climate change.
Ocean Conservancy is working with partners around the world to advance these and other ocean-based climate solutions while supporting the science to explore new opportunities.
The solutions are real. The progress is real. And so is the opportunity to make a difference.
As John puts it, the ocean has been taking care of us. It’s time we returned the favor. Watch Ocean Discovery: Climate and Our Ocean to hear Fatima and John unpack the science, the stakes and the solutions—and then take the next step.
Take action to combat the climate crisis from right where you are. Our elected officials must act now to move away from dirty fossil fuels that exacerbate climate change and move toward clean energy. Add your name today.
Whether you’re learning more, sharing what you’ve learned or raising your voice with decision-makers, your action matters. Together we can protect the ocean that protects us.
Combat the Climate Crisis
Our elected officials must act now to move away from dirty fossil fuels that exacerbate climate change and move toward clean energy. Add your name today.
