Go Green Wilmette Examines Climate Change's Impact on the Ocean

On the evening of Jan. 30, the and Go Green Wilmette hosted the Greener Choices presentation “The Climate Reality Project and the Oceans.” The Climate Reality Project is a follow-up to Al Gore’s prize-winning film, An Inconvenient Truth. Kent Taylor and Jess Reese, both volunteers with the Project and advocates for a healthy ocean, spoke about how climate change, and all its by-products, are contributing to the ocean’s decline, especially through the decimation of coral reef ecosystems.

The ocean and its reef systems have a vital environmental value and a crucial human value as well. Seventy percent of the world’s population relies on a healthy ocean for food, and much of the seafood needs healthy coral to survive.  The oceans supply millions of people with their livelihood. Ocean-related tourism contributes over $300 billion a year to various economies. The ocean is a mostly unexplored medicine cabinet, which has already helped treat illnesses such as HIV, ovarian cancer and malaria. A healthy ocean supplies us with oxygen to breathe, and reefs help protect us from rampaging storms.

Earlier: 

There are three major threats to the health of the ocean from climate change:  rising ocean temperatures, ocean acidification and more destructive storms—all of which are destroying reefs.

Climate change is causing the ocean temperature to rise. The two presenters provided graphic proof of how industrial and agricultural carbon emissions have caused the rise in global temperatures, which have negatively affected the ocean and its reef systems. 

Another result of increased carbon emissions is ocean acidification. This change makes it difficult for ocean creatures to grow shells. It also affects the health of ocean coral and reefs by promoting coral bleaching and die-off. These corals have been called the ocean’s canary in the coal mine. Their decline is telling us that the health of the larger ocean ecosystem is in jeopardy.

Finally, Reese and Taylor showed how the rising water temperatures fuel stronger and more destructive storms. Wind velocity rises and more moisture is picked up from the warmer water. As the ocean water warms, thermal expansion causes seawater levels to rise and threaten coastal and low-lying areas and their populations. Reefs help mitigate the damage of the wave action.

Yet, there is hope. Here and there are patches of coral that have managed to survive. More regulation of fishing is taking place. More is being done to create cleaner, non-carbon emitting energy. Finally, through presentations like these, people are becoming more aware of how important a healthy ocean is to our existence. 

The presentation concluded with a discussion on how we all can help. Get a copy of the Blue Ocean Institute’s Ocean Friendly Seafood Guide and a Seafood Watch pocket guide and phone app from the Monterey Bay Aquarium to guide your sustainable seafood choices. Pressure your legislators to support alternatives to carbon-based energy policies. Save energy by using CFL bulbs, turning off lights and unplugging unused electronics. Spread the word about how important the ocean’s health is for all of us. 

Be sure to attend Go Green Wilmette’s Environmental Fair on March 11 to learn even more.

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