Why caring for our oceans is so important S25 Ep36

This week, listen in to Jill Grant exploring the importance of our oceans and chatting about some great organisations that are working to protect this amazing global resource and habitat. Oceans cover 70% of the Earth’s surface and they provide a vital regulator of global climate and weather through their currents that transfer heat from the Equator to the Poles and dictate rainfall and wind systems with vital impacts on food production, water supplies and habitation. They also directly supply food, fibres, recreation, transport and medicines, all of which bring societal benefits. Coastal wetlands cover less than 1% of the earth’s surface yet they store 50% of seabed carbon – more than 2-4 times that of forests on a per area basis. They can help reduce climate change impacts by storing carbon from the atmosphere in “carbon sinks” This so called “Blue Carbon” is identified as a major contributor to efforts to reduce overall emissions and subsequent increases in global temperatures – the impacts of which are becoming more intense and more frequent. If Australia is to meet its recently promised targets of a 62-70 percent reduction below 2005 levels within the next 10 years then action must be accelerated and well placed. It seems that ocean conservation, litter reduction and water quality improvements are just some of the specific efforts to increase carbon storage potential on our extensive coastline.  Want more information? Port Phillip Eco-Centre www.ecocentre.com This not for profit, community managed environment group located in St Kilda has been operating since 1999 and now has almost 5000 volunteers, 120 partners, links with 145 schools and over 15000 program participants. Australian Marine Conservation Foundation (AMCS)  https://www.marineconservation.org.au Established in 1965 and dedicated to healthy seas and protection of ocean wildlife . As an independent group of scientists, educators and advocates they work on the big issues related to protection of ocean ecosystems and marine reserves.  Their research and education programs have been invaluable in raising awareness of ocean issues and the integral role that ocean health plays in Climate Change mitigation and adaptation. Tangaroa Blue Foundation https://tangaroblue.org A not-for-profit organisation that works to stop the flow of litter into the ocean.  They created the Australian Marine Debris Initiative (AMDI) to help groups who run beach clean-up events to document what they were funding in a consistent way. This network of data sources has provided a powerful record for decision making that has led to source reduction plans and allowed monitoring of efforts and interventions to prevent litter entering the marine environment in the first place. Since 2004 over 2000 tonnes of marine debris have been collected in Australia alone. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) https://www.noaa.gov NOAA experts provide data and tools to understand, prepare for and adapt to our changing climate and through their Ocean Service programs are helping to explore and document the health and species diversity of oceans.  Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT Climate Portal) Why is the Ocean so important for Climate Change? https://climate.mit.ed/ask-mit/why-oceans-so-important-climate-change Australian Climate Services https://www.acs.gov.au Australian Climate Change Authority www.climatechangeauthority.gov.au 2035 Emissions Reduction Targets Advice released (18 September 2025) Department of Climate Change www.dcceew.gov.au, Coastal Blue Carbon ecosystems, 15 September 2025 Voice of the Sea – song, book and animation www.https://johnwilliamson.com.au World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)  https://wwf.org.au/what-we-do/oceans/ Greenpeace  https://www.greenpeace.org.au/our-work/oceans/

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