About this edition

Welcome to the Special Edition on Oceans of our ClimaTalk Journal!

Oceans are at the heart of the climate crisis, regulating global temperatures and absorbing much of the planet’s excess heat and carbon. As you will read in our latest edition, they face unprecedented threats from warming, acidification, and biodiversity loss—challenges intensified by phenomena like the El Niño Southern Oscillation and the degradation of vital blue carbon ecosystems such as mangroves and seagrasses. Small Island Developing States, including Kiribati, are particularly vulnerable to rising seas and displacement despite their minimal contribution to global emissions. As we turn to pivotal moments like the United Nations Ocean Conference 2025 and the leadership of organizations such as the Marine Stewardship Council, this issue explores the need for global cooperation, innovative solutions, and accountability to secure a sustainable future for our oceans and the communities that depend on them.

Oceans and Their Threats

by GHrushitaa Murali (She/Her)

El Nino Southern Oscillation: An Introduction

by Julia Gaus

Blue Carbon Ecosystems: An Introduction

by Harveet Singh Purewal

Coral Bleaching: How to Respond to the Ongoing Emergency

by Dora Scribe

The Climate Crisis and Its Disproportionate Impact on Small Island Developing States (SDS)

by Samriddhi

Biodiversity: Oceans and their role in climate change mitigation 

by Jenay Randall

Between Migration and Resilience: Kiribati’s Strategic Dilemma

by Virginia Raffaeli

UNOC 2025: Where Does International Cooperation for Oceans Stand?

by Numa Poudevigne

Decarbonising Global Shipping: Is the IMO Net-Zero Framework Enough?

by Tran Bui

What is the Marine Stewardship Council?

by Finlay Procter

Small Island Developing States Win: GHGs Declared Ocean Pollutants

by Samriddhi