Ocean’s ability to absorb carbon is weakening as climate change intensifies, UN warns
What was announced
The ocean absorbs around 30 per cent of human-caused carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions and 90 per cent of excess heat trapped by greenhouse gases. But climate change has already reduced its capacity to absorb carbon by approximately six per cent, a new UN report warns ahead of the COP31 climate conference in November.
Figures in this announcement
Each line is quoted from the original. Figures are as the publisher stated them on the day.
- “The ocean absorbs around 30 per cent of human-caused carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions and 90 per cent of excess heat trapped by greenhouse gases.”
Who and where
Global and regional bodies
- United Nations (Level 8 of 10) · more news
Where this sits in the 10 levels of power
Receipt
- Original: https://news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2026/10/1168687
- Published 2026-10-28 12:00:00 UTC
- Read by this site 2026-10-28 14:00:20 UTC from UN News
- Saved copy: receipt 3740, with its SHA-256 fingerprint
Headline and summary quoted from United Nations. Read the full text on the publisher's site.
Related official news
- Lord Chancellor visits United Nations to promote British candidate to UN court
- ‘The Future of Sudan’s People Cannot Be Built on Impunity’, Third Committee Hears, as Experts Warn of Deadly Repression in Iran, Afghanistan
- Sixth Committee Debate on International Law Commission Report Highlights Work on Official Immunity
- Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General
- First Committee Approves 3 Draft Resolutions, 2 Decisions on Other Weapons of Mass Destruction
- Outer Space is Vital in Tackling Disasters, Food Insecurity, Climate Change, Fourth Committee Says, Stressing the Need for Data Cooperation
- Decisions on Recruitment, Promotion Must Be ‘Transparent, Bias-Free’, Secretary-General Says in Anti-Racism Event
- Activities of Secretary-General in Armenia, 15-17 October
More from UN News
- Record heat-related deaths in 2023, WHO-partnered report finds
- DR Congo: WHO urges sustained efforts as Ebola cases top 10,000
- Ending conflict is ‘number one thing’ to reduce world hunger, new WFP chief says
- Protecting the storytellers: Women journalists on the frontline of conflict
- Civilians in Sudan’s El Obeid trapped between drones and incarceration
- UN human rights chief urges better protection of civilians in conflicts
Also announced on 28 October 2026
- ‘The Future of Sudan’s People Cannot Be Built on Impunity’, Third Committee Hears, as Experts Warn of Deadly Repression in Iran, Afghanistan
- Sixth Committee Debate on International Law Commission Report Highlights Work on Official Immunity
- Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General
- First Committee Approves 3 Draft Resolutions, 2 Decisions on Other Weapons of Mass Destruction
- Outer Space is Vital in Tackling Disasters, Food Insecurity, Climate Change, Fourth Committee Says, Stressing the Need for Data Cooperation
- Decisions on Recruitment, Promotion Must Be ‘Transparent, Bias-Free’, Secretary-General Says in Anti-Racism Event