[chimpanzee]

>> We can see similar weakening indicated in climate models

>> we were not able to put together the observational evidence that would really allow us to pinpoint the cause of the observed decline

>> the grip of our addiction to fossil fuels

I take the above to mean that the ocean’s current state cannot be proven to be caused by climate change. But climate change models do indicate a similar effect would be had. So, given the current state, any future effect of climate change would only make things worse.

Importantly, “in the grip of” only implies a future determined by “the hand that grips” not that the past or present was necessarily produced by the same hand.