Coastal and Ocean Sinks

• This sector summary highlights the importance of oceans and coastal ecosystems in sequestering carbon dioxide, absorbing heat, maintaining biodiversity, and fighting climate change.
• The brief article explains how the marine environment is being affected by climate change and what we can do to prevent these effects.

Positives

• This article is ideal for introducing students to how marine environments are affected by climate change and the essential role oceans play in carbon sequestration.
• The article introduces many scientific concepts and topics which can be expanded upon in class or through research.

Additional Prerequisites

• This article is an introduction to a series of articles on marine-related climate solutions.
• Links to more articles on solutions can be found at the bottom of the webpage. These solutions include improving fisheries and seaweed farming.
• Students should be familiar with the causes of climate change.

Differentiation

• As an extension, have students work in groups to research different marine-based climate solutions and their potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Through a class discussion, ask students why they think land-based climate solutions have been prioritized in the past.
• As there are many concepts and scientific terms presented in the article, consider encouraging younger students to highlight any terms they may be unfamiliar with. These terms can be researched individually or discussed in class to ensure comprehension.
• This resource can be used in chemistry classes during lessons about the effects of changing ocean chemistry and in social studies classes during lessons about the impacts of reduced ocean productivity and biodiversity on the livelihoods of coastal communities.