Global Climate News

\"International parties discussed marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) activities under the London Convention and Protocol. While some progress was made, no concrete action was taken. Differing opinions on commercial activity and governance were expressed among parties including Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, and the US. The parties agreed to continue work and evaluate options for appropriate action, including considering both potential risks and benefits of mCDR techniques.\"

The Pew Charitable Trusts, in collaboration with 32 international scientists, conducted a horizon scan identifying 15 significant issues shaping environmental conservation. Four key issues highlighted include: macroalgae as a sustainable source of rare earth elements; record low Antarctic sea ice impacting marine ecosystems; human impact on seabed carbon stores; and offshore wind farms altering ocean processes. The study was published in Trends in Ecology & Evolution and partially funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts.

The National Audubon Society released a report advocating for responsible offshore wind development that minimizes risks to birds. The report outlines strategies to balance clean energy with conservation, including a four-step process: removing critical bird habitats from consideration, implementing minimization measures, offsetting unavoidable impacts, and conducting monitoring. Several organizations, including Ørsted and the National Aquarium, voiced support for the report’s recommendations.

The National Audubon Society released a report, \"Birds and Offshore Wind\", outlining strategies for responsible offshore wind development that minimizes risks to birds. The report recommends a four-step process: remove critical bird habitats, implement risk reduction measures, offset unavoidable impacts, and monitor projects. The report also calls for policies prioritizing wildlife protection and community benefits.

France hosted the 30th Conference of Ambassadors, addressing major international challenges and focusing on supporting the French economy and the European agenda. The conference also discussed the upcoming AI Action Summit, Nutrition for Growth Summit, and UN Ocean Conference, all of which have sustainability implications.

This research assessed patterns of biotic homogenization and differentiation across more than 175,000 samples of 2,006 demersal fish species from 34 regions spanning six decades and 20% of the planet’s continental shelf area. Ten regions showed significant homogenization, eleven showed significant differentiation, and fifteen showed non-monotonic temporal fluctuations. Fishing pressure and temperature influenced beta diversity, but effects varied regionally. The study challenges the global homogenization paradigm in marine ecosystems.

A study has reviewed the reconstructed metabolic evolution of marine picocyanobacteria and explored how the marine biosphere overcame earlier constraints on productivity, potentially linking the rise of arthropods to cyanobacteria's colonization of the open ocean. The research suggests that photosynthesis may have been largely limited to shallow continental shelf waters during the Precambrian, impacting interpretations of biospheric productivity and Earth history.

India has launched the first Green Hydrogen Hub under the National Green Hydrogen Mission. The NTPC Green Energy Limited Green Hydrogen Hub Project in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, entails an investment of approximately ₹1,85,000 crore and will produce 1500 TPD Green Hydrogen and 7500 TPD Green Hydrogen derivatives. This project will contribute to India's target of 500 GW non-fossil energy capacity by 2030.

Wales has launched the UK’s first Ocean Literacy strategy, ‘Y Môr a Ni’ (The Sea and Us), aiming to improve people’s relationship with the coast and seas. The initiative, led by CaSP Cymru and involving 22 organizations, seeks to raise awareness of the sea’s influence and our impact on it, promoting actions to protect marine environments and support local well-being. The strategy addresses threats such as climate change and pollution.

The Al Dhafra Grand Kingfish Championship, held in Abu Dhabi from January 10-12, 2025, aims to preserve the UAE’s marine heritage, encourage traditional fishing, promote tourism, and support the local economy. The championship, organized by the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, Abu Dhabi Sports Council, and Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Club, offered a total cash prize of AED1,168,000.

The Tetiaroa Society, a non-profit organization, in collaboration with The Brando resort, has established a research facility called the Ecostation on the Tetiaroa atoll in French Polynesia. The Ecostation supports various research projects focused on climate change impacts, coral reef conservation, invasive species removal, and the study of sharks. The resort, which is LEED-platinum certified, provides significant funding for the Tetiaroa Society’s work. Researchers from around the world contribute to the research, with daily rates including meals, lodging, and lab access.

A study using a high-resolution ocean biogeochemistry model projected a 40% reduction in the efficiency of the Arctic’s biological carbon pump by 2100 due to climate change, with terrigenous inputs contributing 10%. This will reduce the Arctic Ocean’s carbon sink by at least 10% (33 TgC yr−1).

MIT scientists have discovered that Prochlorococcus, the most abundant photosynthesizing organism on the planet, sheds DNA building blocks at night, which are then consumed by other ocean organisms, such as SAR11, the most abundant bacteria in the ocean. This cross-feeding interaction could be a major regulator of the ocean carbon cycle and helps many microbial communities to grow sustainably. The research was supported by the Simons Foundation and the National Science Foundation.

Researchers have presented a monthly resolved reconstruction of sea-surface temperature, near-surface air temperature, sea-level pressure, and sea-ice concentration from 1850–2023 using coupled data assimilation with linear inverse models. Key findings include post-1980 trends in the Walker circulation and zonal-Pacific SST gradient, a strengthening tropical SST contrast since 1975, and substantial uncertainty in Southern Ocean cooling trends post-1980. Arctic sea ice declined by 0.5 ± 0.1 million km² during the 1920s.

A study by researchers from Florida International University and other institutions has simulated the effects of sea level rise on the Indian River Lagoon ecosystem in Florida. Their models predict substantial deterioration of ecosystem services by 2050, including inundation of boat ramps and spoil islands, and a decline in seagrass distribution. By 2100, even more severe impacts are projected.

A study has classified global ecoregions into dependent, resilient and vulnerable categories to analyze the impact of tropical cyclone pattern changes on coastal ecosystems. The study found that 9.4% of terrestrial ecosystems are susceptible to transformation due to cyclone pattern changes between 1980-2017 and 2015-2050 under climate scenario SSP5-8.5. Even resilient ecosystems may experience a decrease in the average interval between storms, potentially affecting their recovery time.

The United Arab Emirates, specifically Abu Dhabi, has won the bid to host the International Aquarium Congress (IAC) in 2030. The National Aquarium Abu Dhabi (NAAD), in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau (ADCEB), secured the bid, bringing the event to the Middle East for the first time. Hosting the IAC 2030 aligns with Abu Dhabi’s vision to drive impactful conversations and initiatives around environmental sustainability and conservation.

The Indian Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has undertaken various initiatives in 2024 related to climate, ocean, and weather research. These include launching the Mission Mausam (2,000 crore outlay), approving the PRITHVi Vigyan scheme (Rs. 4,797 crores), and establishing new facilities like High-Performance Computers, Doppler Weather Radars, and the Integrated Ocean Energy Atlas. The MoES also participated in international collaborations and agreements like the BBNJ agreement and the 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting.

The UN is focusing on several climate-related issues in 2025, including keeping global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius, protecting nature, securing climate finance, strengthening climate law, and tackling plastic pollution. At COP29, an agreement was reached to triple climate finance for developing countries to $300 billion annually by 2035, although this is less than the $1.3 trillion needed. The International Court of Justice will issue an advisory opinion on States’ legal obligations regarding climate change, which is expected to guide future international climate law.

A research team, including scientists from NOAA\\'s Atlantic Oceanographic & Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) and the University of Miami\\'s Cooperative Institute of Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS), conducted research on ocean carbon uptake and acidification in the Arctic. The team collected data as part of the International Ships of Opportunity Program aboard the icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot, monitoring the ocean's absorption of carbon dioxide and its impact on ocean acidification in a remote region.