Ocean acidification is a substantial emergent threat to marine biodiversity and the goods and services it provides. While efforts to address ocean acidification have been taken under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), a far greater potential to do so exists by finding synergies between biodiversity conservation efforts and ocean acidification action. The ongoing process to develop a post‐2020 global biodiversity framework offers an opportunity to ensure that opportunities for addressing ocean acidification are capitalised upon and not overlooked. In this paper, I argue that a two‐pronged approach is needed to achieve this. First, via a technical integration of ocean acidification across the targets to be included in the post‐2020 framework, and second, through a reframing of the issue as a ‘biodiversity problem’, so as to highlight the synergies between existing biodiversity work and action needed to address ocean acidification. Given this framework is intended to establish the global biodiversity agenda for the coming decades, integration of ocean acidification will set a precedent for the other biodiversity‐related conventions and encourage greater uptake of the issue across the wider international community. This paper is of direct relevance to those participating in the negotiations, both from a Party perspective and those advocating for a strong outcome to protect marine biodiversity and marine socio‐ecological systems. This paper is also of relevance to those working beyond the CBD within the other biodiversity‐related conventions where efforts to address ocean acidification are sorely lacking.
Harrould‐Kolieb E., in press. Enhancing synergies between action on ocean acidification and the post‐2020 global biodiversity framework. Conservation Biology. Article (subscription required).
