The ocean may have removed much less carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than expected in 2023, mainly due to high ocean temperatures. If climate change continues to rapidly weaken the planet’s ocean and land carbon sinks, it will be even more difficult to avoid dangerous levels of warming.

The ocean currently absorbs a quarter of the world’s CO2 emissions from the atmosphere each year. However, warming temperatures are expected to weaken this natural carbon sink and observations from 2023…