Ocean acidification is arguably one of the most serious threats facing the oceans and humans this century. Ocean acidification is not a symptom of climate change; rather, it is a threat concurrent with climate change and caused by a common root problem: ongoing anthropogenic CO2 emissions. It is a serious global challenge of unprecedented scale and importance that requires immediate action.
Preventing further acidification of the oceans will require stabilizing and reducing the level of CO2 in the atmosphere, which is most effectively done through reducing CO2 emissions. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is clearly an appropriate environmental policy regime to deal with the mitigation of ocean acidification, through CO2 reductions. It is also a suitable forum for devising and providing funding for responses to ocean acidification that can be incorporated into national adaptation plans.
Many efforts are underway to raise awareness and inform policy and decision makers about ocean acidification and its potential impacts. So far, however, no concrete recommendations have been made on how ocean acidification could be integrated within the UNFCCC. This paper attempts to address this gap by offering an initial suite of possible ways to address ocean acidification alongside climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.
Harrould-Kolieb E. & Herrb D., 2010. Climate change and ocean acidification: synergies and opportunities within the UNFCCC, discussion paper. Oceana report: 1-17. Article.
