Discussions at COP27 highlighted nature's pivotal role in tackling the climate crisis. These 10 areas show where progress is being made on climate action.

It's time to bring everyday citizens to the negotiating table, so decision-makers have access to real experiences from those most impacted by the ocean.

The deep sea contains 90% of the water in our oceans, but due to the lack of sunlight for photosynthesis to occur, it makes it a difficult place for species to live.

Ocean 20 launches 12 November to start a dialogue to boost lasting, equitable, resilient growth for G20 countries through a sustainable ocean economy.

From optimizing whale safety to mapping the sea floor, here's how ocean data innovators are uncovering new insights and driving ocean research.

Up to one billion tons of carbon dioxide is released each year from degraded coastal ecosystems. Here's how blue carbon credits can reduce emissions and protect coastal communities.

By 2050, the world will have produced over 40 billion tonnes of plastic, and it's not going anywhere. Here's how collaboration can tackle plastic pollution.

New images show the Caspian Sea's declining water levels over the past 16 years. Here's why that's a threat to people and planet - and what we can do.

Climate risks are impacting coastal cities around the world leading some communities to take their own action to increase future resilience.

The Nile Delta is one of Earth's most fertile and densely populated rural areas but climate impacts are negatively affecting coastal farms in Egypt.

Climate finance is a central theme at COP27 in Egypt. Here are some options for climate adaptation and climate finance.

As the UN Climate Summit COP27 begins this month, here are 6 books climate leaders such as Jane Goodall, Al Gore and more say will inspire and shape you.

The shipping industry aims to align with a 1.5 degrees Celsius trajectory, this means that zero-emission fuels must make up 5% of global fuels by 2030.

Japan has developed world-leading ways of mitigating tsunamis and other natural disasters, using innovative technology and public-private partnerships.

Carbon offsetting is becoming an essential tool for reducing emissions and channeling much-needed funding to the Global South. Here's how it has matured.

The world is at a tipping point when it comes to limiting global warming to 1.5°C. Turning pledges into implementation plans is a high priority for COP27.

Rapidly expanding renewable power use would remove the need for new fossil fuel extraction, but current investment in these technologies is falling short.

Mangrove forests capture and store carbon and act as natural flood defences. A reforestation project shows how technology can help saplings reach maturity.

People living on islands are seeing the impact of climate change on the ocean every day. At COP27, the international community must take responsibility

Ocean sediments are massive storehouses for ancient reservoirs of natural methane. Scientists investigate the possibility and potential impact of its release.

Conservationists are advocating for fish-mediated resilience - restoring populations of algae-eating reef fish, in order to save the world’s coral reefs.

Lighthouse factories around the globe use technology to improve productivity, sustainability and workforce engagement. Here are key quotes from Lighthouse leaders.

Advances in satellite technology over recent decades have allowed scientists to chart the melting of the Earth’s ice sheets in remarkable detail.

Scientists have found the first ‘sea level fingerprint’, helping boost confidence in models and theories predicting potential changes in ocean levels.

Small ocean eddies move important nutrients around oceans and help keep marine life healthy. This could also help sustain carbon storage in subtropical oceans.

Marine temperatures are rising because of climate change and are likely to exceed safe thresholds more quickly in deeper waters, according to a new study.

Rising sea levels have now reached record numbers and are forecast to rise more by 2050. Where are sea levels rising fastest, and what can the world do to slow the tide?

Up to 35% of fish caught is wasted. The seafood sector can become more circular and put by-products to use. Aquaculture offers solutions.

Whale Safe technology is helping reduce fatal collisions between ships and whales in the Santa Barbara Channel off the West coast of the United States.

The Seabin project began in Australia and aims to solve the global problem of ocean plastic pollution and ocean conservation, one marina at a time.

Market-based sustainable ocean investing is surging, with opportunities across all sectors and asset classes of the blue economy.

Indonesia is planning to expand its marine protected area coverage to 325,000 square kilometres by the end of this decade, the fisheries ministry says.

Seaweed is a versatile and nutritious food source, often rich in fibre and high in vitamins and minerals. But high prices and food neophobia are barriers.

Global warming is accelerating permafrost thawing, causing Arctic lakes to drain, endangering the lives of species and communities dependent on these vital freshwater sources.

The famous Great Salt Lake in the United States has shrunk almost 7 metres since 1985 - because of population growth and climate change, says NASA.

NASA concludes that sea level rise over this 30-year period is about 10 times more than it would be if only natural flows of water between ocean and land were measured in a year.

Plankton reflect climate change’s impact on the ocean - increasing levels of jellyfish signal how rising sea temperatures are altering the ocean food web.

The Mediterranean Sea has seen record-breaking temperatures this summer. Here a Professor of Marine Zoology explains the potential impact on ocean life.

Maritime shipping is responsible for 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions. As the sector goes green, these three economies are emerging as leaders.

Fishers operating near the port of Belawan on the island of Sumatra are reporting declining catches and a hit to their livelihoods from tidal flooding.

Coastal communities that depend on marine megafauna for food and income are, in contrast, rarely well placed to benefit from marine tourism - so how can we fund their conservation without...

New research shows that microwaving fish waste could create carbon nano-onions which could be used to make sustainable LEDs, among other applications.

Living seawalls – a form of eco-engineering – are 3D-printed structures that help restore local ecosystems and protect coastal areas from rising seawater.

New research found several reasons why it is extremely difficult to work out a reliable figure for carbon accumulation by coastal ecosystems under current conditions.

Building a blue economy means preserving the ocean for future generations without sacrificing profit — but financing is key. Here's how we make it happen.

The Eastern Caribbean is at the forefront of efforts to invest heavily in developing the blue economy, in close partnership with the World Bank and others.

A new report has found that an increase in seafood sustainability and greater supply chain disclosure could improve ocean health and significantly boost retailer profits.

Deep-sea mining, an industry poised to start operating in 2023, could result in the dangerous loss of biodiversity and other disruptions to the deep sea.

As the UN supports negotiations for a plastic pollution treaty, researchers dive into existing laws that regulate plastic pollution from fishing vessels

Researchers have documented fin whales feeding en masse off Antarctica’s Elephant Island, a win for the 1982 ban on the practice of commercial whaling.

Upcoming rules from the IMO require shipping firms to calculate their vessels' annual carbon intensity, which could lead to slower sailing speed on older ships.

The 2022 UN Ocean Conference took place in Lisbon. The global ocean community gathered to celebrate progress and push for more ambitious ocean action.

From the financial value of green energy investment in Europe, to how best to talk about sustainability, these are the latest stories on climate change.

Research models have found that a temporary climate overshoot would cause waves of irreversible extinctions and lasting damage to tens of thousands of species.

The ocean is in serious decline. Only an urgent multilateral effort can halt this and preserve the ocean and the benefits it provides for future generations.

Seas hold over 50 times the amount of CO2 than the atmosphere, so we'd be wise to look at ocean-based carbon dioxide removal to tackle climate change.

Web3 tools are being used to raise money for ocean conservation and fund ocean science, but more scientific input and analysis are needed to ensure success.

Small Island Developing States like Fiji were battered by COVID-19. In a post-pandemic world, the ocean will provide them sustainable and resilient growth.

The UN Ocean Conference will be focussing on the major challenges and opportunities faced by the ocean today, from overfishing to excess carbon emissions.

Top environment stories: Aquaman's Momoa speaks out on saving the ocean; Denmark sets EU's highest carbon tax; Biodiversity loss would hit credit ratings.

There are hopes UN Ocean Conference 2022, in Portugal, co-hosted by Kenya, will find solutions to the problems of sustainably managing the ocean.

The world's biggest freshwater fish ever recorded, a female stingray weighing in at 300kg, has been discovered by Cambodian villagers on the Mekong River.

6 winners were picked for the United Nations World Oceans Day Photo Competition, as photographers from around the world captured the beauty of our blue planet.

Most living biomass is found on land, with plants accounting for four-fifths of the total, while animal biomass is most prevalent in marine environments.

In 2021, ocean surface temperatures were 0.65°C higher than the 20th century average. The year with the biggest divergence was 2016, at 0.8°C higher.

Countries must take bolder, more holistic approaches to achieve a sustainable ocean economy and address existing inequalities, say experts.

When it comes to marine conservation, Niue has become a world leader by protecting all the ocean around its coasts.

World Ocean Day is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Thousands of events will be hosted by youth groups, schools, aquariums and businesses in 150 countries.

Vital ocean regions off the coasts of mainland US are unprotected, according to new analysis of marine protected areas (MPAs), which calls for increased funding.

Researchers are using autonomous underwater robots to sample environmental DNA and monitor marine biodiversity in previously unsurveyed parts of the ocean.

A blue economy can spur economic growth, create jobs and mitigate some of the most severe climate impacts if we protect it and use its resources sustainably.

As human demands and interventions in a finite marine space increase, it will become more and more challenging to restore and protect the ocean.

The blue economy is rising. Learn how innovative global businesses are working together to protect, restore and support the ocean and the blue economy.

IUU fishing represents as much as 20% of the global catch and means losses to the global economy in the range of billions. New technological approaches can identify the risks of illegal f...

The ocean has a memory - and it's rapidly losing it, according to research. Global warming is making the critical top layer, called ocean memory, thinner.

With sea levels set to rise another foot by 2050, New Zealand has published a draft plan on it can adapt to rising sea levels and other climate risks.

Rising temperatures are accelerating Earth's water cycle. Water is evaporating more quickly, making wet areas wetter and dry areas drier, according to new research.

Top environment stories: Emperor penguins could be extinct in 30 years; China sea levels hit record high; Rich nations must hit climate goals, says Kerry.

Insensitive to climate change, mariculture can build finfish and shellfish farms to increase availability of healthy and sustainable meat, study finds.

The ocean is a critical global resource in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss. In 2022, countries must join global treaties to protect it.

Recent floods in Malaysia caused nearly $1.5 billion in widespread destruction. Analysts believe deforestation is contributing to the worsening floods.

This portable unit needs less power to operate than a cell phone charger and could make it much easier for those in resource-poor areas to desalinate water

South Africa is recovering from the biggest natural disaster to hit the country and a just transition to protect lives and livelihoods is its best strategy

Extreme rainfall during the record-breaking Atlantic hurricane season in 2020 was made more intense by human-caused climate change, a new study says.

Scientists from the University of Tasmania’s Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies have found bleached sponges off the eastern coast of Tasmania.

The ocean and marine mammals could be an overlooked global carbon sink to help tackle climate change, write two experts.

A new paper on supply chains identifies knowledge and stakeholder participation gaps that will impede decision-making on stewardship of deep-sea minerals

Thousands of new RNA viruses have been found in our oceans. One could help scientists to get a better understanding of how early life developed on Earth.

International cooperation is essential to manage the costs and maximize the benefits of adaptation, particularly in the Middle East and Asia, IMF states.

A new study has found that fish routinely chat to one another. It’s another reason why we must urgently prioritize ocean health, experts say.

While scientists believe these sinkholes are the result of longer-term climate cycles, they also note how climate change continues to reshape the Arctic.

They store carbon efficiently, contain more biodiversity than forests and protect against floods and wildfires. So, why aren't wetlands a bigger part of the climate-change discussion?

Wave energy is the most powerful but least developed renewable energy. If harnessed, it could meet much of the world’s electricity needs.

Paint microplastic emissions account for more than half of estimated total annual ocean microplastic leakage and more needs to be done to tackle the issue.

Rising sea levels due to climate change means coastal megacities in poorer countries need to adopt blue-green infrastructure solutions like 'rain gardens'.

For the first time a local scientist has discovered a new species in the Maldives. Researchers have concerns about early commercial interest in the fish.

According to a new 22-month study, three common coral species in Hawaii may be more resilient to rising ocean temperatures than once thought, and could withstand a temperature increase up...

Q&A: Vatosoa Rakotondrazafy talks about her work as coordinator of Mihari, a national marine network that represents the voices of small-scale fishers.

There’s still time to save coral reefs, but we will have to quickly address land-based pollution, overfishing and climate change to have a hope of doing so

During a survey for freshwater fish diversity, scientists discovered two new species of goby fish. But there are concerns they could now become extinct.

There are fuels that can achieve net-zero shipping emissions but scaling up these efforts needs lifecycle analysis, government action and policy frameworks.

An international treaty is needed to help protect the high seas, an area teeming with marine life, yet prone to overfishing and other man-made problems.

Japanese researchers have placed a monitoring device on the heads of Weddell seals to survey the waters in Antarctica, and collect observational data.

United Nations negotiators agreed on a roadmap for a global plastic treaty that would address plastic production and design, as well as waste management.

The latest IPCC Report warns that the window to act to avoid climate catastrophe is closing fast unless urgent action is taken and commitments increased

To tackle marine plastic pollution, it is necessary to solve the problem as far ‘upstream’ as possible.

From 2019-20, 74,000 people visited Antarctica, the majority by ship. The travel and resulting stay produce black carbon that accelerates climate change.

Large shifts in the water cycle mean that dry areas become drier, and wet areas become wetter - meaning more droughts and extreme flooding, warn scientists.

The UpLink Blue Carbon Challenge sourced 12 innovative solutions to harness the potential of blue carbon markets to support conservation and restoration.

Plastics are filling our environment. At the United Nations Environmental Assembly, world leaders must strike a binding agreement to end plastic pollution.

Ocean plastic pollution will increase fourfold unless we curb our use of this ubiquitous but deadly substance says a new study.

Researchers have found that using LED lights on fishing nets could prevent endangered species such as sharks, sea turtles, and rays from being entangled.

Top environment stories: pollution causing more deaths than COVID; US sea levels may rise 60cm by 2050; Spanish village reappears as drought dries reservoir.

Supergenes found in cod have highlighted how they have adapted to overfishing, and scientists say these will make them more resilient to climate change.

80% of the wastewater is discharged untreated into the environment, so the the drugs we use to improve health are finding their way into our rivers.

Research has found that only 16% of the world's coastal regions are in good condition, and there are many so damaged that are beyond full restoration.

Environmental campaigners say efforts by the shipping industry to cut emissions are too slow, but inclusion in the European Union Emissions Trading System could speed it up.

Much of the plastic pollution in the world’s oceans flows into them from rivers. But these innovations capture plastic in inland waterways and recycle it.

A Nobel-winning stock market theory is being used to pick 50 reefs as ‘sanctuaries’ to survive climate crisis and revive coral elsewhere.

Research is showing that seaweed and products derived from it could help fight climate change while addressing many challenges facing the agriculture industry

The largest marine heatwave is called the "Blob", occurring in the North Pacific in 2015, which had catastrophic consequences for our marine ecosystems.

With demand for food production growing on land-based agriculture under increasing pressure from climate change, our ocean and seas could provide a fertile alternative.

Tiny nanoplastics are widespread and could be harmful to our health - and ever more of them are being created as discarded plastics break down in nature.

Tsunamis are created by a different mechanism from waves -when an underwater earthquake, volcanic eruption or landslide displaces a large amount of water.

UN chief appeals for support for developing countries; German chancellor calls for 'paradigm shift' on climate action; pristine coral reef found off Tahiti.

Demand for blue food is expected to double by 2050, which will have environmental and social implications. The world needs sustainable aquaculture systems.

Plastic pollution poses problems for our environment. Here are the various ways it’s contributing to the climate crisis - and what can be done about it.

The world’s oceans are hotter than ever recorded, and their heat has increased each decade since the 1960s. This severely impacts the world's weather systems.

In Kenya, fishers, fish traders, and coastal communities faced severe livelihood and food security challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Non-native species are entering Antarctica's ecosystems by catching rides on ships from 1,500 global ports that come to the region, according to a study.

Scientists say ocean temperature is a better way to measure global warming, as natural weather cycles don't impact the ocean in the same way as the air.

Plastic pollution is a global problem that harms ecosystems. A project in Africa is working with scientists to research the effects of plastic on the ocean.

China is in a unique position to lead the transition to a carbon neutral and net zero economy. Without it, its economy is risking loss and disruption.

Most plastic is made from fossil fuel, which accounts for 8% of global oil consumption. Here's how we can turn plastics from a climate enemy into an ally

The Davos Agenda 2022 virtual event, 17-21 January, will feature heads of state, CEOs and other leaders discussing critical challenges and how to address them.

Between 2009 and 2018, coral cover has progressively declined by 14% putting reefs and the biodiversity that relies on them at risk.

We must not let the risks of a disorderly net-zero transition become an excuse for slowing the journey to net-zero. Instead, we should grasp the opportunities that this change will create.

Scientists have created a three-dimensional atlas of the oxygen-deficient zones in the world's oceans to better understand how they change over time.

Green corridors offer a way to scale zero-emission shipping industry solutions to meet climate targets by 2050. We examine how two trade routes could work.

Specific new technologies, such as sensors, drones, robots and artificial intelligence have enormous capacity to help the world reach its ocean targets.

Better data sharing can boost economic growth and better protect the ocean. Here's how more transparency across ocean industries can build trust and a sustainable blue economy.

The Arctic region continues to warm twice as fast as the rest of the planet according to the annual report from the NOAA-led Arctic Program.

The last 12 months of floods and droughts showed extreme events are happening more often and everywhere. Here's how the world can adapt in the new year.

The capital city of Dhaka in central Bangladesh is currently the fourth-least livable city in the world. Here's how it can clean up its vital river systems.

This involves taking steps to mitigate risks before storms strike; for example, building on safer, higher land and improving forest and river management.

A reef of shellfish could help New York City square up to the threat of storms and floods linked to climate change.

Climate change is felt most deeply through water, with higher temperatures leading to droughts, floods, and rainfall variability, impacting low-income countries.

Rising sea levels pose a significant threat to major coastal cities - even if we could halt global warming.

A new visualization by xkcd offers a unique look at the world's oceans, lakes and drill holes.

A Japanese start-up has designed a wind turbine that works during cyclones, turning Japan's 26 annual typhoons and tropical storms into reliable energy sources.

Scientists have found that certain areas are uniquely important carbon vaults. If destroyed, these ecosystems could take decades or centuries to regenerate.

A new X-ray method has allowed researchers to identify zinc-sulfide nanoparticles on the timbers of the Mary Rose, helping conservationists preserve it.

Glacial rock flour, the small silt deposits from glacial melt, could help boost farm yields around the world as it allows plants to access to nutrients.

Atmospheric rivers carry up to 15 times the volume of the Mississippi River, according to the NASA Earth Observatory and are causing flooding in Canada's British Columbia.

Microrobots are predicted to revolutionize healthcare, designed to swim through the body to deliver medication to specific areas and perform surgical procedures.

Members of the WTO have been negotiating rules for two decades to stop harmful fisheries subsidies. Will they fulfil their commitment to protect the ocean?

Seagrass, mangroves, and salt marshes could help us slow climate change. These blue carbon ecosystems could deliver 20% of the carbon cuts needed by 2050.

Simon Kofe, Tuvalu's foreign minister, addressed the COP26 climate summit while standing knee-deep in the seawater that threatens to submerge his country.

Artificial glaciers can serve as a source of fresh water for communities and ecosystems in the driest places, like India and South America.

Ocean plankton are migrating from tropical waters towards the cooler poles as the earth warms, scientists have found, bringing potentially dire consequences to the food web.

Water-related disasters are accountable for 325,000 fatalities and over $1.7 trillion economic loss across the world. This shows the need for mapping tools.

As COP26 opens, Radio Davos hears from a journalist who has covered many climate summits and reported from remote corners of the world on global warming.

A new strategy for the transition to zero-emission shipping outlines what it will take for the industry to move away from fossil fuels towards a green future.

Coastal marsh plants provide significant protection from surges and devastating storms. New research shows how they can be effectively restored and managed.

Research has revealed that Plexaura homomalla and kükenthali are two separate species of coral. Scientists have struggled to differentiate them in the past.