(corrects figures, trillion rather than billions)
Copenhagen, 21 mar ( EFE).- climate change could cause annual damage to the oceans by $ 2 trillion (1,512 trillion euros) by 2100, according to a report released today by the Stockholm environment Institute.
That annual cost, equivalent to 0.37 per cent of global GDP calculated by 2100, takes as a basis an average 4 degree increase in global temperatures until the year.
The study, baptized “Valuing the Ocean” (valuing the Ocean), estimated the loss of value of the oceans into account five categories: tourism, increase in the level of the seas, storms, fishing and ocean carbon sinks.
A rapid reduction of emissions, limiting the increase in global temperature to 2.2 degrees, would mean a savings of 1.4 trillion dollars (1,059 trillion euros) of the projected annual damage.
“these figures are only a part of the story, but provide an indication of the price of the avoidable portion of future environmental damage in the ocean, the distance between our hopes and our fears”, noted in a statement Frank Ackerman, one of the coordinators of the report.
The study also points out that climate change is not the only threat to the oceans and suggests that the damage could be greater if converge several factors, such as acidification, warming of the water, hypoxia, the rise of the sea level, pollution and overexploitation of marine resources.
“must develop an integrated vision of how our actions impact on oceans and threaten the vital services they provide, from food to tourism and the protection against storms”, said Kevin Noone, the Royal Swedish Science Academy and co-editor of the report.
“Valuing the Ocean” urged politicians to consider the threat to the oceans in their economic plans and development, and urges world leaders to turn oceans on a “priority” in the objectives of sustainable development global, in addition to reducing CO2 emissions “of dramatic form”.
The study is the work of a team of international experts, coordinated by the Stockholm Environment Institute, which will be published in its entirety at the end of this year.
Preliminary conclusions will form part of the documentation to be used in the Summit on RÃo+20 sustainable development, to be held in June. EFE
