Mohammad Yunus

Opinion | Asia needs urgent help to turn the tide on ocean heatwaves

Warming waters threaten catastrophe for Asia’s food supply, economy, climate and carbon sinks. Only a global effort can reverse this

Reading Time:3 minutes

Why you can trust SCMP

03:23

‘Global boiling’ threatening corals and livelihoods in Gulf of Thailand

Mohammad Yunus

Published: 8:30pm, 1 Aug 2024Updated: 1:48am, 2 Aug 2024

Asia’s oceans face heatwaves of increasing frequency and intensity. These extreme events affect all marine life, creating a dangerous feedback loop that exacerbates the problem. Coral reefs, often called the rainforests of the sea, are particularly vulnerable.

In Indonesia’s West Nusa Tenggara province, a recent survey showed that up to 90 per cent of corals have experienced bleaching over the past four decades due to elevated temperatures. This devastation extends beyond corals, affecting the myriad species that depend on these complex ecosystems.

Oceans are the lifeblood of Asians. They are vital to food systems, provide livelihoods for millions and contribute significantly to the economy. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Asia is home to 85 per cent of the world’s fishing population and 71 per cent of the global fishing fleet.

Additionally, these vast bodies of water play a critical role in carbon storage, absorbing an estimated 30 per cent of human-made carbon dioxide emissions since the beginning of the industrial era.

There is an urgent need to protect Asia’s oceans from warming and its associated challenges. The consequences of inaction are severe, including the intensification of tropical cyclones.

A recent study revealed a significant increase in the destructive power of tropical cyclones across East and Southeast Asia between 1979 and 2016. Projections suggest a doubling of this destructive capacity in the Western North Pacific by the end of the century due to ocean heatwaves.