# A graphic novel from the 4th International Symposium on the Effects of Climate Change on the World's Oceans

Jason Link, Bas Kohler, Roger Griffis, Margaret Brady, Shin-Ichi Ito, Veronique Garcon, Anne Hollowed, Manuel Barange, Robin Brown, Wojciech Wawrzynski

► To cite this version:

Jason Link, Bas Kohler, Roger Griffis, Margaret Brady, Shin-Ichi Ito, et al. A graphic novel from the 4th International Symposium on the Effects of Climate Change on the World's Oceans. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 2019, 76 (5), pp.1221-1243. 10.1093/icesjms/fsy155. hal-02344711

HAL Id: hal-02344711

https://hal.science/hal-02344711v1

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Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
ICES Journal of Marine Science (2019), 76(5), 1221–1243. doi:10.1093/icesjms/fsy155

# Contribution to the Symposium: ‘The Effects of Climate Change on the World’s Oceans’
Quo Vadimus

## A graphic novel from the 4th International Symposium on the
Effects of Climate Change on the World’s Oceans

Jason S. Link ⒹID ⑆1*, Bas Kohler<fnref n="2" />, Roger Griffis<fnref n="3" />, Margaret M. (Peg) Brady<fnref n="3" />, Shin-Ichi Ito ⒹID ⑆4,
Véronique Garçon<fnref n="5" />, Anne Hollowed<fnref n="6" />, Manuel Barange<fnref n="7" />, Robin Brown<fnref n="8" />, and
Wojciech Wawrzynski<fnref n="9" />

Link, J. S., Kohler, B., Griffis, R., (Peg) Brady, M. M., Ito, S.-I., Garçon, V., Hollowed, A., Barange, M., Brown, R., and Wawrzynski, W. A graphic novel from the 4th International Symposium on the Effects of Climate Change on the World’s Oceans. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 76: 1221–1243.

Received 9 August 2018; revised 24 September 2018; accepted 25 September 2018; advance access publication 16 November 2018.

The world’s oceans are changing in response to a changing climate, these changes have significant consequences, there is much at risk, and action is needed now to increase the resilience of ocean ecosystems and the people that depend on them. That was the message from the 4th International Symposium “Effects of Climate Change on the World’s Oceans”, held from 4 to 8 June 2018 in Washington, DC. The symposium gathered ~650 people from over 50 countries to discuss not only how to advance our understanding and scientific knowledge, but also how to enact solutions based on that science to address challenges facing the world’s oceans. Two perceptions were explored at the symposium: that we just do not know enough to act, and that there is nothing but bad news. The reality is that while better understanding of the causes and consequences of climate-related changes in ocean ecosystems is always useful, we already know enough to act. There are also opportunities, positive outcomes, and cause for hope in considering and communicating those actions. A professional graphic artist attended the meeting, and produced a range of amazingly insightful and often poignant cartoons as an effective means to share lessons from the conference in real time. As an entree into the special theme set, a selection of the cartoons has been assembled here, providing a narrative of the meeting and offering areas for future consideration.

**Keywords:** changing oceans, climate change, comic strip, human dimensions, marine ecosystems, solutions.

<footnote n="1">¹National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, 166 Water St., Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²Studiobaskohler, Binnenbantammerstraat 1, 1011 CH Amsterdam, The Netherlands</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, SSMC 3, Rm 12741, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA</footnote>

<footnote n="4">⁴Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo, 5-1-5, Kashiwa 277-8564, Japan</footnote>

<footnote n="5">⁵National Center for Scientific Research, LEGOS, 18 Avenue Edouard Belin, 3140 Toulouse Cedex, France</footnote>

<footnote n="6">⁶National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine, Fisheries Service, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115, USA</footnote>

<footnote n="7">⁷Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, Rome 00153, Italy</footnote>

<footnote n="8">⁸North Pacific Marine Science Organization, 9860 W. Saanich Road, Sidney, BC V8L 4B2 Canada</footnote>

<footnote n="9">⁹International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, H. C. Andersens Boulevard 44-46, 1553 Copenhagen V, Denmark</footnote>

<footnote>*Corresponding author: tel: 1-508-495-2340; e-mail: jason.link@noaa.gov.</footnote>
A graphic novel from the 4th International Symposium
on the Effects of Climate Change on the World's Oceans

<figure><img src="image_2.png" /></figure>

Link, Jason; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service

Köhler, Bas; Studiobaskohler, Amsterdam The Netherlands

Griffis, Roger; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Fisheries Service

Brady, Margaret M. (Peg); National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Fisheries Service

Ito, Shin-ichi; University of Tokyo, Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute

Garcon, Veronique; National Center for Scientific Research

Hollowed, Anne; National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Fisheries Science Center

Barange, Manuel; Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Agriculture and Consumer Protection Department

Brown, Robin; North Pacific Marine Science Organization

Wawrzynski, Wojciech; International Council for the Exploration of the Sea

<figure><img src="image_3.png" /></figure>

Abstract:

The world's oceans are changing in response to a changing climate, these changes have significant consequences, there is much at risk, and action is needed now to increase the resilience of ocean ecosystems and the people that depend on them. That was the message from the 4th International Symposium „Effects of Climate Change on the World's Oceans," held from June 4-8, 2018 in Washington, D.C. The symposium gathered ~650 people from over 50 countries to discuss not only how to advance our understanding and scientific knowledge, but also how to enact solutions based on that science to address challenges facing the world's oceans. Two perceptions were explored at the symposium: that we just don't know enough to act, and that there is nothing but bad news. The reality is that while better understanding of the causes and consequences of climate-related changes in ocean ecosystems is always useful, we already know enough to act. There are also opportunities, positive outcomes, and cause for hope in considering and communicating those actions. A professional graphic artist attended the meeting, and produced a range of amazingly insightful and often poignant cartoons as an effective means to share lessons from the conference in real time. As an entree into the special theme set, a selection of the cartoons has been assembled here, providing a narrative of the meeting and offering areas for future consideration.

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*The Oceans are changing. We see increases in temperature.*

<figure><img src="image_5.png" /></figure>

*We see extreme ocean heatwaves, also known as warm „blobs.“*

<figure><img src="image_6.png" /></figure>
We see changes in carbon cycling

<figure><img src="image_7.png" /></figure>

and the carbon pump.

<figure><img src="image_8.png" /></figure>
## We see oxygen concentration declining

<figure><img src="image_9.png" /></figure>

## with other, multiple changes in ocean chemistry.

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And the results are that species are now shifting their distributions.

<figure><img src="image_11.png" /></figure>

invasive species are increasing.

<figure><img src="image_12.png" /></figure>
coral reefs are facing unprecedented multiple threats,

<figure><img src="image_13.png" /></figure>

and the Arctic is significantly changing, in response to changing ocean conditions

<figure><img src="image_14.png" /></figure>
and all resulting in notable consequences.
To the point that there is a lot at stake.

<figure><img src="image_15.png" /></figure>

There are impacts on human populations

Meanwhile @ a pacific island

<figure><img src="image_16.png" /></figure>
and consequences for human health.

Climate
Change
Productions®
Presents:

the killer algae

<figure><img src="image_17.png" /></figure>

Starring:
Gaulerpa taxifolia

Soon
in an Ocean
near you!

food provision and security

<figure><img src="image_18.png" /></figure>
and some of the most traded commodities in the world,

<figure><img src="image_19.png" /></figure>

ecosystem goods and services,

<figure><img src="image_20.png" /></figure>
major businesses.

<figure><img src="image_21.png" /></figure>

and significant parts of national and global economies.

<figure><img src="image_22.png" /></figure>
There is much science to do to understand these changes and consequences.

<figure><img src="image_23.png" /></figure>

With lots of measures of risk

<figure><img src="image_24.png" /></figure>
and the need to sort out trends and variability.

<figure><img src="image_25.png" /></figure>

By using lots of types of models: fish models,

Use of body size by fish models

<figure><img src="image_26.png" /></figure>
marine ecosystems models,

<figure><img src="image_27.png" /></figure>

and even entire earth system models.

<figure><img src="image_28.png" /></figure>
By using big data

<figure><img src="image_29.png" /></figure>

that all needs to have a much broader context than it used to.

<figure><img src="image_30.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_31.png" /></figure>

©Cefuubabasakoh.com
necessary to inform decisions that need to be made now.

<figure><img src="image_32.png" /></figure>

To find solutions that deal with climate-induced changes and consequences-

<figure><img src="image_33.png" /></figure>
Using a wide array of knowledge

<figure><img src="image_34.png" /></figure>

and exploring different types of possible responses.

the Ocean Extreme Collection™:

<figure><img src="image_35.png" /></figure>
While not too complex

<figure><img src="image_36.png" /></figure>

and staying close to reality by using both existing tools

<figure><img src="image_37.png" /></figure>
and new technologies.

<figure><img src="image_38.png" /></figure>

By identifying situations and communities that are most vulnerable

## Community Vulnerability Assessment:

<figure><img src="image_39.png" /></figure>
while communicating information to a wide range of people.

## How to address the urgency of climate change?

<figure><img src="image_40.png" /></figure>

For both those not yet convinced

<figure><img src="image_41.png" /></figure>
and those not fully aware of the issues.

<figure><img src="image_42.png" /></figure>

All in a way that builds hope and not despair

<figure><img src="image_43.png" /></figure>
## ConVincing the crowd

OK, so we
should be more
Positive 😊 in our
Communication in
order not to throw
People in deep
Apathy...

...But not
to Positive!

as they
might Becom
lazy!

<figure><img src="image_44.png" /></figure>

and to true solutions to these challenges facing the changing oceans.

## Adaptive management needed!

Well that's just a
matter of adapting
A bit...

<figure><img src="image_45.png" /></figure>

... by adopting
NEW Buzzz words...
like adaptation,

<figure><img src="image_46.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_47.png" /></figure>
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Drawings: © 2018 www.baskohler.nl

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<figure><img src="image_50.png" /></figure>

ICES
CIEM

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<figure><img src="image_52.png" /></figure>

United Nations
Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization

<figure><img src="image_53.png" /></figure>

Intergovernmental
Oceanographic
Commission

<figure><img src="image_54.png" /></figure>

Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations

More:

https://meetings.pices.int/meetings/international/2018/climate-change/background