The ocean loses 6% of its capacity to absorb CO₂ due to global warming

The UN warns that the weakening of one of the main natural carbon sinks may leave more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and accelerate climate change.

The ocean absorbs around 30% of human-caused CO₂ emissions, but global warming has already reduced its capacity to capture carbon by about 6%, according to a new United Nations report. The oceans are one of the planet’s main natural defences against climate change. In addition to removing a considerable part of the carbon dioxide generated by human activity from the atmosphere, they absorb approximately 90% of the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gases. This regulatory role, however, is beginning to deteriorate.

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