Climate Change and Maritime Sector Essay Sample

CLIMATE CHANGE AND MARITIME
SECTOR

Climate change can be described as a significant and a long lasting transformation in the
statistical distribution of weather patterns over a period of time that range from decades to a
million years (Daufresnea, Lengfellnera and Sommera, 2009). The change may be in terms of
average weather conditions or in the overall distribution of weather around average
circumstances (Durant and et.al., 2007). The climate of earth has been undergoing many changes
throughout the course of history. Most of the climatic changes are attributed to small variations
in the orbit of earth that brings significant alteration in the amount of solar energy received by
planet. However the current climatic change has been on account of human induced variations
that have been proceeding at an unprecedented rate in the past 1300 years (Millien and et.al.,
2006). These climatic changes have posed a huge impact on the overall ecosystem as well as
many economic activities. The activity carried out by maritime sector happens to be one such
area which is required to be given a due emphasis.
Maritime sector is inclusive of all the firms that are engaged in construction, design,
manufacture, acquisition, operation, supply, repair as well as maintenance of vessels (Sommer
and Lengfellner, 2008). The present essay focuses on providing a detailed description about
complexity in the impacts of climate change on the planet earth. Special emphasis has been given
on coasts and oceans. A due consideration has also been given on basic physical and chemical
phenomena and how the climatic changes influence the biological processes with special
reference to fish stocks. There will also be a discussion about challenges and opportunities for
the maritime industry.
Climate change is defined as alterations in statistical distribution of weather over a given
period of time. This time span may range from a decade to millions of years. There may be
changes in average conditions of weather or distribution of weather events which diverts from
the average. These changes may be limited to a specific region or could span across the whole
earth (Soares, Gagnon and Doherty, 2012). The climatic changes are basically due to natural
internal processes that are to take place. However, this intensity has been increased by the
ongoing anthropological activities which have led to persistent changes and most of the
variations are negative. Its impacts are being visualized in all corners of the planet. For example,
there has been an increase in the average temperature of earth surface (Asariotis and Benamara,
2012). Over the last 100 years, the temperature over the globe has increased by 0.74 degrees
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Celsius on an average scale (Awal, Islam and Hoque, 2010). The change may seem to be very
minor but the rate of happening is very quick that is a disturbing factor. In the similar manner,
the human activities have lead to an increase in the overall carbon foot print.
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These may be on the streams and rivers as well as available wetlands. Lives in both fresh and
salty water are bound to be affected by changes in productivity.
Some positive impacts of climate change are also being observed. These are inclusive of
greener rainforests followed by an increased plant growth in Amazon basin. The vegetation in
northern latitudes may witness an increase. This may be followed by enhanced growth of
plankton biomass in varied parts of ocean. Other than this, there may be a presence of fewer
deaths and injuries due to cold weather (Soares, Gagnon and Doherty, 2012). There may also be
fewer needs for energy consumption to cold places. Most importantly, there can be a prevention
of ice age from occurring. However, it is required to be understood that the negative impacts
outnumber the positive ones.
It seems clear that the phenomenon of climate change is affecting the planet in a number
of ways. However, a deep emphasis is required to be given on coasts and oceans as well as the
overall ecosystem. The phenomenon of global warming which is a crucial element of climate
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change has resulted in forcing of species to migrate on higher elevations where temperature
conditions are conducive for their survival (Asariotis and Benamara, 2012). For example, the
boreal forests have been found to invade tundra. This has in turn reduced the habitat for many
unique species whose very survival depends on tundra ecosystem. These are inclusive of arctic
fox, caribou and snowy owl.
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In this regard, the major ones happen to be shifts in riparian vegetation as well as phenomenon of
hydrology.
The marine ecosystem has also been impacted due to ongoing climate changes. These
ecosystems play a central role in the biology of planet. In this regard, the impact of
anthropogenic climate change has caused a heavy decrease in productivity of oceans. There has
been a presence of altered food web dynamics, decreased habitat-forming species (Vidas and
Schei, 2011). A shift has also been seen in distributions of species followed by increase
incidences of disease. However, there happens to be an uncertainty about spatial and temporal
details but the impact has altered ocean ecosystems (Awal, Islam and Hoque, 2010). The
ongoing process of climatic variations is also expected to have a huge crash on the overall
distribution of fish stocks.
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This is likely to pose a further challenge for policy makers, managers of fisheries as well
prevailing fishing industry. For example, some species of fish are a major key towards
maintaining the overall integrity of marine food chains (Climate Impacts on Ecosystems, 2013).
In this respect, an overall decline of sandeels in the North Sea may lead to a further restructuring
of food chains. There can be presence of an increased demand for fish followed by a decreased
availability (Wang, 2010). This difference in demand and supply may be difficult to cope up in
the near term future. Hence, the persisting issue with fish stocks can be recovered by bringing an
overall reduction in fishing mortality (Climate change affecting fish stocks, 2013). However, this
situation may not be efficient in longer terms owing to increased incidences of climate change.
There is also a huge impact of climate change on coastal and ocean environments. The
coastal areas have been a home to species and habitats that have been found to provide many
benefits to human beings as well as prevailing natural ecosystems. Hence, the changing regime
of climate is bound to have an impact on the coastal as well as ocean environments in many ways
(Asariotis and Benamara, 2012).
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The dominant activity performed by maritime industry happens to be water transportation which
is also regarded as a primary mode of international trade (Durant and et.al. 2007). As the
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transport involves for covering long distances, hence prevailing climatic changes pose a heavy
risk as well as increased chances of opportunity for maritime sector.
Impacts are already being seen on ports and shipping channels on account of a rise in sea
levels as well as changes in erosion and patterns of sedimentation. There has been a planning of
entirely new routes due to melting of polar ice caps in and all over the North Pole. Hence, the
impact of climatic change on maritime industry is being felt maximum in polar regions
particularly the Arctic (Teka and et.al. 2013). The significant increase in sea level due to melting
of ice caps will have a devastating impact on the harbors, ports as well as surrounding coastal
regions. There might be encouragement of ill equipped and inadequately designed vessels to
venture into higher latitudes. The ill prepared vessels may be allowed for navigation into
extremely and highly variable environmental conditions (Vidas and Schei, 2011). This may
prove detrimental for the life as well as trade activities.
On a positive front it is being estimated that the decreasing polar ice caps will enable
creation of a varied types of maritime activities. These are inclusive of mineral exploitation
along with fishing in polar areas (Brekke, 2009). One calculation has suggested that use of
North-East Passage during ice-free seasons is likely to bring a reduction in passage time between
Europe and Far East Asia by a span of around three weeks. This will thus benefit the global
shipping and may even open up Arctic Ocean for a major trade route (Soares, Gagnon and
Doherty, 2012). This may further create immense opportunity for water transport, tourism and
trade related activities. There can be presence of safer approaches for cruise ships due to
reduction in polar ice caps. Other than this many positive impacts are yet to be seen (Bergeron
and Moen, 2009). The climate change is likely to bring a physical change in coastal zone. Hence,
the requirement on part of maritime sector will be on bringing significant changes in port
infrastructure. This can be considered as opportunity in terms of expansion (Felton and et.al.,
2010). Along with this the physical change of water basin can act as a source of opportunity by
opening up of inland navigable routes in novel directions. But owing to the positive as well as
negative factor there happens to be a double edged sword (Dimitrios and et.al. 2005). On one
hand, there is a presence of new business opportunities for maritime sector but there is also a
presence of unwelcomed extension of human footprint in predominantly pristine landscapes.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Asariotis, R. and Benamara, H., 2012. Maritime Transport and the Climate Change Challenge.
Routledge.
Awal, I. Z., Islam, R. M. and Hoque, M. M., 2010. Collision of marine vehicles in Bangladesh: a
study on accident characteristics. Disaster Prevention and Management. 19(5). pp.582 – 595
Bateman, S. and Ho, J., 2013. Maritime Challenges and Priorities in Asia: Implications for
Regional Security. Routledge.
Brekke, D. L., 2009. Climate Change and Water Resources Management: A Federal Perspective
DIANE Publishing.
Daufresne, M., 2009. Impacts of climatic and non-climatic pressures on fish communities in
large French rivers. Hydroecol Appl. 16. Pp. 109–134.
Daufresnea, D., Lengfellnera, K. and Sommera, U., 2009. Global warming benefits the small in
aquatic ecosystems. 106(31). pp.12788–12793.
Dimitrios N. K. and et.al., 2005. Planning practices in the Greek ocean shipping industry.
European Business Review. 17(2). pp.151 – 176
Durant, J. M. and et.al. 2007. Climate and the match or mismatch between predator requirements
and resource availability. Clim Res. 33.
Felton, A. and et.al., 2010. Adapting production forests in southern Sweden to climate change:
Constraints and opportunities for risk spreading. International Journal of Climate Change
Strategies and Management. 2(1). pp.84 – 97
Millien, V. and et.al., 2006. Ecotypic variation in the context of global climate change:
Revisiting the rules. Ecol Lett. 9. pp. 853–869.
Soares, B. M., Gagnon, S. A. and Doherty, M. R., 2012. Conceptual elements of climate change
vulnerability assessments: a review. International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and
Management. 4(1). pp.6 – 35
Sommer, U. and Lengfellner, K., 2008. Climate change and the timing, magnitude, and
composition of the phytoplankton spring bloom. Glob Change Biol. 14. pp.1199–1208.
Spyrou, G. A., 2010. Global Climate Change and the Shipping Industry. iUniverse.
Teka, O. and et.al., 2013. An assessment of climate variation risks on agricultural production:
Perceptions and adaptation options in Benin. International Journal of Climate Change
Strategies and Management. 5(2). pp.166 – 180

Treasury., 2007. The Economics of Climate Change: The Stern Review. Cambridge University
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Press.
Vidas, D.,and Schei, J. P., 2011. The World Ocean in Globalisation: Climate Change,
Sustainable Fisheries, Biodiversity, Shipping, Regional Issues. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers.
Wang, H., 2010. Reducing GHG mitigation costs in the shipping industry using the clean
development mechanism. Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal.
21(4). pp.452 – 463
Online articles
Bergeron, D. and Moen, S., 2009. Survey Captures Maritime Industry Thoughts on Climate
Change. [Online]. Available through:
<http://www.seagrant.umn.edu/newsletter/2009/09/survey_captures_maritime_industry_thou
ghts_on_climate_change_.html>. [Accessed on 16th October 2013].
Climate change affecting fish stocks. 2012. [Online]. Available through:
<http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2012/05/marine-environment08052012http://
www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2012/05/marine-environment08052012
Climate change impacts on the marine environment. 2013. [Online]. Available through:
<http://www.wwf.org.au/our_work/saving_the_natural_world/oceans_and_marine/marine_th
reats/climate_change_impacts/>. [Accessed on 16th October 2013].
Climate Impacts on Ecosystems. 2013. [Online]. Available through:
<http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/impacts-adaptation/ecosystems.html>. [Accessed on
16th October 2013].
Metherell, M., 2008. Fish stock at risk in climate change. 2008. [Online]. Available through:
<http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/global-warming/fish-stock-at-risk-in-climate-change/
2008/10/05/1223145175347.html/>. [Accessed on 16th October 2013].

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