The Climate Shift Index: Ocean (Ocean CSI) is an interactive global mapping tool that quantifies the influence of anthropogenic climate change on daily sea surface temperatures. By providing real-time attribution data, the tool helps users understand how much more likely specific ocean temperature anomalies have become due to global warming. For finance professionals, this resource offers critical data for assessing physical risks associated with marine environments and coastal economic activities.

Organisation behind the tool

The tool was developed and is maintained by Climate Central, an independent group of scientists and communicators who research and report the facts about our changing climate and its impact on the public.

What the tool does

• Provides a global interactive map showing daily sea surface temperature anomalies.
• Calculates the Climate Shift Index (CSI) for oceans, a categorical scale indicating how climate change has altered the frequency of observed temperatures.
• Visualises marine heatwaves and areas of significant ocean heat accumulation.
• Allows users to track historical and recent sea surface temperature data at a global scale.

Target audience

The primary audience includes climate scientists, researchers, and educators. It is also designed for policymakers, the general public, and professionals in sectors sensitive to ocean conditions, such as insurance and maritime trade.

Relevance to finance professionals

• Risk assessment – Identifying regions at higher risk of marine heatwaves which can impact coastal infrastructure, tourism, and supply chains.
• ESG analysis – Providing factual attribution data to support environmental reporting and the assessment of nature-related dependencies.
• Market/commodity insights – Monitoring temperature shifts that affect global fisheries, aquaculture productivity, and offshore energy operations.
• Investment context – Informing long-term capital allocation by identifying geographical areas most affected by accelerating ocean warming trends.