The ocean has shielded us from the worst of climate change. Now it is running a fever | Karina Von Schuckmann
Jun 17, 2026
Nearly every indicator of climate change is flashing red. But we still hold the tools available to bring the planet back into balanceThe ocean is running a fever. In 2025, the number of days of marine heatwaves – prolonged spells when the sea turns abnormally, dangerously warm – was more than tr
iple what it was in the early 1990s.These are not abstract statistics. A severe and persistent marine heatwave bleaches coral reefs, strips away the kelp forests that shelter young fish, empties fishing grounds and – if occurring frequently – can tip whole ecosystems past the point of recovery.Karina Von Schuckmann is an IGCC author and senior adviser of Mercator Ocean International Continue reading...
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