Photo: REUTERS
According to the World Meteorological Organization, the world’s oceans have reached their warmest and most acidic levels – the highest record in 26,000 years.
The United Nations also expressed concern over the Russia-Ukraine tension, which has disrupted commitments by countries to environmental preservation.
WMO reported that, as of 2021, global sea levels had reached a record high due to melting ice sheets. The increased oceanic concentrations may lead to irreversible damages like species extinction and frequent flooding, among others, in the near future if not immediately addressed by global stakeholders.
In a statement, WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas said, “Our climate is changing before our eyes. The heat trapped by human-induced greenhouse gases will warm the planet for many generations to come.”
The UN wants to get the attention of countries around the world, telling leaders to take more responsibility for their environments. In the recent climate assessment, scientists found that the world is heading towards a ‘catastrophic’ future if greenhouse gas emissions are left unchecked.
The media’s lack of attention to climate challenges is problematic and should be discussed more, says Taalas. He further explained that the COVID-19 crisis and Ukraine-Russia war headlines distracted media and the public from paying attention to other pressing global issues like the climate crisis and reduction of CO2 emissions.
Furthermore, many nations have reportedly backed out from their climate commitments because of the war. This has garnered criticisms from environmental activists and other key people in the United Nations, including Selwin Hart, the UN special adviser on climate action. Hart said, “We are … seeing many choices being made by many major economies which, quite frankly, have the potential to lock in a high-carbon, high-polluting future and will place our climate goals at risk.”
The MSCI further noted increased retrogressive effects if more nations will consider turning to coal to address their fuel supply problems.
The WMO reported that carbon dioxide and methane levels reached critical points in 2021. Accompanied by an increase of countries turning back towards coal, this year’s level is projected to break records. Last year, the global temperature was 1.15 above normal. However, if the trend continues, experts project a 1.5 above normal temperature – another critical threshold for global temperature.
Taalas impressed upon the media, “It is just a matter of time before we see another warmest year on record.”
Oceans threatened as temperatures rise
The world’s oceans absorb 90% of the accumulated heat and 23% of the carbon dioxide emissions from human industries. While this role is crucial, the oceans have been threatened over the past years. The acidity level has reached its most severe point since 26,000 years ago. This phenomenon could do irreversible damage to marine life.
The melting of the polar ice caps has caused a rise in sea levels, causing major problems for many coastal areas. Not only does this threaten polar wildlife, but it also increases risks to humans who live near the shore. As per current reports, the global sea levels have risen 4.5 centimeters or 1.8 inches over the last decade.
WMO is warning that life-threatening climate-related disasters are bound to happen unless action is taken soon. They could include extreme wildfires and heatwaves in the near future, as well as frequent floods or storms with more intensity than what the world has seen so far. Warming trends will also lead to an increase in natural hazards, which can cause damage costing $100 billion or more.
Opinions expressed by CEO Weekly contributors are their own.
