New World Ocean Review Explores the Role of the Ocean in Mitigating Climate Change
Hamburg, Germany – On Wednesday, January 24, 2024, the new World Ocean Review (WOR 8) was released, providing a comprehensive look at the current state of knowledge around ocean-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR). Available for free, the report aims to initiate a much-needed debate on whether humankind can and should intervene further in the ocean in order to protect the climate.
The report tackles the pressing question of what action should be taken for the effective mitigation of climate change. While measures to avoid greenhouse gas emissions are a top priority, it is also necessary to remove large quantities of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it securely. This brings up the question of whether the ocean can and should aid in this task.
WOR 8 delves into the oceans’ role in the Earth’s carbon cycle and examines the benefits, risks, and knowledge gaps around the main marine carbon dioxide removal techniques. The report also explores the debate surrounding whether humankind has the right to intervene in ocean processes for the purpose of mitigating climate change, taking into consideration the potential risks and consequences.
According to Nikolaus Gelpke, initiator of the WOR project and Managing Director of maribus gGmbH, “If the warming of the Earth continues at the present rate, a collapse of nature and society is inevitable. In order to reach our climate target, we must resort to methods which are equally impactful and existential. The truth is that stopping avoidable emissions will not be enough.” He hopes that the new World Ocean Review will help to enhance understanding of the necessary measures and their impacts.
The report, which is published by maribus gGmbH in partnership with the German Marine Research Consortium (KDM), the Kiel Future Ocean Network, and the International Ocean Institute, is the result of input from more than 20 scientists. It provides a detailed overview of promising ocean-based carbon capture and storage methods, including restoration and expansion of species-rich coastal ecosystems, interventions in marine chemistry (alkalinity enhancement), and carbon storage deep under the ocean floor. The report also considers key principles and rules that must be put in place if society decides in favor of ocean-based CDR in the future.
Prof. Dr. Ulrich Bathmann, Chair of the German Marine Research Consortium (KDM), writes in his preface, “WOR 8 describes measures which can be or are already being implemented, as well as those which should be assessed as options in terms of their benefits and possible risks.” He emphasizes the importance of collaboration among various marine research disciplines in making fast, deliverable, and sustainable contributions to solving a global problem.
The report also carries significant weight in the scientific community, with Prof. Dr. Martin Visbeck, Co-Spokesperson of Future Ocean, stating, “The themes addressed in WOR 8 will continue to preoccupy us for many years to come.” He notes that research on this topic is future-focused and that the report provides significant impetus for this scientific field.
World Ocean Review is published every two years in German and English and has a worldwide readership of policy-makers, business and civil society stakeholders, and anyone interested in marine conservation and use. The eighth edition, entitled The ocean – a climate champion? How to boost marine carbon dioxide uptake, is available for free as a pdf or can be ordered as a printed copy from https://worldoceanreview.com/en/.
For more information and materials for editorial teams, please visit https://worldoceanreview.com/en/wor-8-press-preview/.
Contact:
Ilona Knufinke
Press and Public Relations
maribus gGmbH
Tel: 0049-40-368076-22
Email: knufinke@mare.de
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.