Hansen speaks on climate action at Marine World Heritage managers conference

Climate change is a global problem, but it wears many faces, causing flooding in some areas and drought in others, record high temperatures one year, and cold the next. In the ocean, we are already seeing coral bleaching, increased acidity, rising seas, and changes to the food web. While many climate solutions—like the Paris climate agreement—require international cooperation, there is huge potential too for local programs to make a difference.

... Paul Marshall from the University of Queensland and Lara Hansen fromEcoAdapt are with us this week to help managers understand the risks to their sites and identify choices that will make the biggest impact. They asked managers to focus on the most significant and beloved features of their sites. For example, inNingaloo Coast, sea turtles and whales sharks are among the most popular attractions, and they are also indicators of overall ocean health. The West Norwegian Fjords is known for its waterfalls and untamed rivers, and Ha Long Bay is beloved for its spectacular rock formations and caves that are used for rituals. As María Chavarria Diaz said yesterday, people fight for what they love, so highlighting the risk to these treasures is one way we can build momentum for climate action.   Read more