Transforming Climate Action: Addressing the Missing Ocean
Multiple lines of evidence show that carbon-intensive human activity has destabilized critical parts of the Earth system that determine our climate. To date, the ocean has absorbed 40% of fossil fuel emissions and 90% of the heat from human-induced global warming through processes collectively known as the “ocean carbon pump.” In response, the ocean is changing at an uncertain rate, and its capacity to buffer human impact could fail, critically exacerbating climate change and compromising efforts to reach net-zero emissions.
Human adaptation to a changing climate urgently requires better understanding of how oceans respond to this crisis. The Transforming Climate Action initiative will resolve, identify and demonstrate the transformative solutions required. The research initiative proposes three interconnected research themes focused on the North Atlantic, which absorbs 30% of global ocean carbon. This program will co-produce transdisciplinary and socially relevant research with Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, governments and international partners to inform climate action for Canada.
- Through intensified and intelligent observation of key ocean processes in the North Atlantic, the research initiative will reduce critical uncertainties at the ocean-climate nexus, including enhanced observation of air-sea carbon fluxes, deep convection and seafloor carbon absorption. Recent technological advances will support a higher-level synthesis of ocean data than previously possible. This synthesis will feed directly into climate policies.
- Taking advantage of reduced uncertainty (Theme 1), as well as engineering- and nature-based solutions to lower the carbon footprint of ocean industries and boost clean technologies for observation and monitoring, the research initiative will develop novel approaches to address climate change through co-designed mitigation actions, including acceleration of natural and artificial carbon absorption in the ocean.
- The research initiative will develop new understanding and practical methods to bolster justice and equity in adaptation at the nexus of oceans, climate and people. Collaboration with Indigenous and coastal communities, novel decision-making and approaches to governance and policy will support more equitable and enduring adaptation responses for a transition to a carbon-neutral economy. The program will develop transformative knowledge mobilization, involving meaningful, impactful and usable communication. It will also investigate approaches to education for the empowerment needed to translate knowledge into action.