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The Science of Climate Change

Climate change is no longer a distant threat or just a possibility, it is now a reality for all of us. In this pathway, Kevin Trenberth, a renowned climatologist, delves into the science behind climate change. He first introduces the climate system, its main components and forces.

Tackling the Plastic Crisis

Plastic pollution is by far the biggest threat to our oceans and this remains an incredibly tough problem to solve. Plastic credits could potentially serve as one of the much needed solutions for this crisis.

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The Scale of the Net Zero Challenge

The price of meeting net zero is estimated to be between $100-150 trillion over the next 30 years. Regardless of this cost, we need to reach net zero before climate change does irreversible damage to the environment and the economy.

ESG, Sustainability and Impact Jargon Buster

ESG, sustainability, impact… they all just mean green, right? Not quite. Despite being used often interchangeably, there are distinct differences between these terms.

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Featured Pathways

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The Science of Climate Change

Climate change is no longer a distant threat or just a possibility, it is now a reality for all of us. In this pathway, Kevin Trenberth, a renowned climatologist, delves into the science behind climate change. He first introduces the climate system, its main components and forces.

Tackling the Plastic Crisis

Plastic pollution is by far the biggest threat to our oceans and this remains an incredibly tough problem to solve. Plastic credits could potentially serve as one of the much needed solutions for this crisis.

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Pricing

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Our Platform

Expert led content

+1,000 expert presented, on-demand video modules

Learning analytics

Keep track of learning progress with our comprehensive data

Interactive learning

Engage with our video hotspots and knowledge check-ins

Testing & certification

Gain CPD / CPE credits and professional certification

Managed learning

Build, scale and manage your organisation’s learning

Integrations

Connect Sustainability Unlocked to your current platform

Featured Content

More featured content

The Scale of the Net Zero Challenge

The price of meeting net zero is estimated to be between $100-150 trillion over the next 30 years. Regardless of this cost, we need to reach net zero before climate change does irreversible damage to the environment and the economy.

ESG, Sustainability and Impact Jargon Buster

ESG, sustainability, impact… they all just mean green, right? Not quite. Despite being used often interchangeably, there are distinct differences between these terms.

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Is It Too Late to Save the Ocean?

Is It Too Late to Save the Ocean?

Vincent Kneefel

15 years: Ocean conservationist

Over 40% of the ocean has already been severely affected by 5 key threats - and this will have disastrous long-term consequences. How we decide act in the next 10 years will be vitally important. Join Vincent Kneefel in this video as he outlines what these key threats are and how they are affecting our oceans.

Over 40% of the ocean has already been severely affected by 5 key threats - and this will have disastrous long-term consequences. How we decide act in the next 10 years will be vitally important. Join Vincent Kneefel in this video as he outlines what these key threats are and how they are affecting our oceans.

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Is It Too Late to Save the Ocean?

8 mins 58 secs

Key learning objectives:

  • Identify the 5 key threats to the ocean

  • Understand the consequences for each threat

Overview:

Threats to the ocean are so extensive today that more than 40% of the ocean has already been severely affected and virtually no area has been left untouched. The business-as-usual trajectory will have detrimental effects, with the WWF estimating that the costs could be $8.4 trillion to the global economy over the next 15 years. Immediate action could save the ocean and reduce these costs to $3.3 trillion.

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Summary

What are the five key threats to the ocean? 

  • Declining fish stocks and biodiversity
  • Ocean Warming
  • Plastic pollution
  • Ocean dead zones
  • Ocean mining 

What do declining fish stocks mean for the global economy? 

On average, each person on earth consumes 19.2kg of fish a year, around twice as much as 50 years ago. Simultaneously the global human population has more than doubled, leaving almost 90% of global marine fish stocks now fully exploited or overfished. In 2020 around 180 million tonnes of fish was caught worldwide. Illegal and unregulated fishing constitutes an estimated 26 million tonnes of fishing worldwide and about 38.5 million tonnes of bycatch. Over just 40 years there has been a decrease recorded in marine species of 39%. 

How damaging would a 2-degree temperature rise be for the ocean? 

The ocean has absorbed more than 90% of the Earth's extra heat from man-made carbon emissions since 1955. If the ocean wasn’t absorbing this heat, average global temperatures on land would be around 60 degrees celsius. Increasing ocean temperatures affect marine species and ecosystems everywhere. As ocean waters warm and land ice melts, sea levels have begun to rise. This ocean warming affects primary productivity and nutrient cycles, the global distribution and survival of marine organisms, and the amount and type of fish that are caught in fisheries. A temperature rise of 2 degrees C would eliminate 99 per cent of coral reefs. Coral reefs occupy less than 1% of the ocean floor, yet are home to more than 25% of marine life.

How much plastic is polluting the ocean? 

Plastic waste is currently entering the ocean at a rate of about 11 million metric tons a year, where it is harming marine life and damaging habitats. There is already more than 150 million tonnes of plastic in the ocean, and this amount could triple by 2040. According to Breaking the Plastic Wave, a study by Oxford University, without immediate and sustained action, the amount of plastic leaking into the ocean will continue to increase to 29 million metric tons per year by 2040.

Why is ocean mining an emerging threat? 

Increasing demand for precious natural resources has led to a resurgent interest in exploiting deep-sea mineral deposits. Commercial ocean mining is not yet happening at the moment, but this could start as early as 2023. Scientists warn of irreversible biodiversity loss.

 

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Vincent Kneefel

Vincent Kneefel

Vincent Kneefel is an underwater photographer, ocean conservationist and circular economy expert. He has worked for organizations such as WWF, United Nations and Accenture on strategic sustainability and ocean conservation initiatives. His photographs show some of the most iconic and endangered creatures of our ocean.

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