The New Nation - Internet Edition

ACCORDING to a UN-backed environment study, warming trends in a third of the world's large ocean regions are 'two to four times greater' than previously reported averages, increasing the risk to maritime life and fisheries. Over-fishing, coastal pollution and degradation of water quality were common in all 64 large marine ecosystems studied by scientists who contributed to the United Nations Environment Programme (Unep) report presented at an international conference in Hanoi, Vietnam recently. These maritime ecosystems are under great stress which is increasing because of global warming. As stressed by scientists, the policy-makers and donors should immediately recognise these factors and take up the required steps for maintaining balanced ecosystems with a view to ensuring safety of the planet and well-being of all the living beings.

The report said that in 18 of the 64 regions, the accelerated warming trends are 2 to 4 times greater than the average trends reported last year by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. There have been widespread changes in management of national jurisdiction over oceans. But governance of the 64 per cent of the oceans that lies beyond national jurisdiction remains largely fragmented making it difficult to address the effects of uses. The most rapid warming was recorded in the Baltic Sea at 1.35 degrees Celsius in the past 25 years. Other areas under threat included Yellow Sea, a most heavily over-fished and degraded sea in the world.

Meanwhile, according to the World Health Organisation, more than half the annual estimated 150,000 deaths linked to climate change will come from the Asia-Pacific region. The impact of climate change will be felt more in developing countries, which have fewer resources to deal with it.