Momina Naseer
The oceans are more acidic now than they have been for at least 300m years, due to carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels, and a mass extinction of key species may already be almost inevitable as a result, leading marine scientists warning the general public and government to take action. An international audit of the health of the oceans has found that overfishing and pollution are also contributing to the crisis. In the warning yet of the threat to ocean health, the International Programme on the State of the Ocean (IPSO) said: “This [acidification] is unprecedented in the Earth’s known history. We are entering an unknown territory of marine ecosystem change, and exposing organisms to intolerable evolutionary pressure. The next mass extinction may have already begun.” There are a variety of methods to reduce and control ocean acidification. The Washington State government has the opportunity not only to deal with local issues by preventing further acidification in its coastal waters, but also to address the issue on a global scale by acting as a successful example for other states and nations to follow. To achieve this, the following three policies must be actualized immediately. Anthropogenic emissions are a major cause of acidification. The two planetary boundaries (ocean acidification and climate change) are intimately linked. The proposed boundary for ocean acidification is to maintain oceanic aragonite saturation state at 80%. This figure currently stands at 84% of the pre-industrial value but the boundary of 350 ppm CO2 were to be respected. Following the Paris Agreement, Washington State government must continue to work alongside national governments and the global community, to reduce CO2 emissions. This should involve the Department of Natural Resources increasing their protection of Washington State’s 11 forests. This should also involve encouraging the national government to force transitions to renewable energy sources before 2030, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy. This should involve using stringent market based policies, such as taxing fossil fuels and offering subsidies for low-emission technologies, as well as promoting public transport and cycling or walking. Increasing taxes on gasoline and making public transport more attractive modes of transport both proved very effective in Germany. Data is limited at present and solutions to highly specific challenges can only be created with the relevant scientific knowledge. This may also enable the evolution of methods for dealing with the consequences of ocean acidification that we cannot prevent. The state government should engage federal agencies like NOAA and NSF to work alongside them. As stated by the Washington Shellfish Initiative: Blue Ribbon Panel on Ocean Acidification, the state government should focus on four main strategies. Firstly, understanding acidification trends in Washington’s marine waters. Second, quantifying the acidifying influences. Third, understanding the biological responses of local species. And finally, it is imperative to make short-term forecasts and long-term predictions of global and local acidification effects. Raising public awareness of the causes and consequences of ocean acidification will be instrumental in the fight to prevent it. The state government must work alongside businesses, national governments and international organizations (e.g. United Nations) to educate and engage as many people as possible. To be successful, the power of social media to help generate tangible action from citizens should be exploited, as well as using events, poster campaigns, websites, documentaries and visits to schools and workplaces. The State government should also consider offering recognition or financial award schemes for businesses who contribute significantly to reducing CO2 emissions and preventing ocean acidification. If citizens are engaged alongside governments and international organizations, the devastating consequences of ocean acidification can be prevented. The primary cause of ocean acidification is the release of atmospheric CO2 from human activities. The only known realistic mitigation option on a global scale is to limit future atmospheric CO2 levels. Appropriate management of land use and land-use change can enhance uptake of atmospheric CO2 by vegetation and soils through activities such as restoration of wetlands, planting new forests and reforestation. The impacts of other stressors on ocean ecosystems such as higher temperatures and deoxygenation – also associated with increasing CO2 – will be reduced by limiting increases in CO2 levels. At local levels, the effects of ocean acidification on ecosystem resilience may be constrained by minimizing other local stressors: Developing sustainable fisheries management practices such as regulating catches to reduce overfishing and creating long-term by catch reduction plans. If implemented and enforced, this type of management has been shown to sustain ecosystem resilience. Adopting sustainable management of habitats, increased coastal protection, reduced sediment loading and application of marine spatial planning. Establishing and maintaining Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) that help manage endangered and highly vulnerable ecosystems to enhance their resilience against multiple environmental stressors. Monitoring and regulating localized sources of acidification from runoff and pollutants such as fertilizers. Reducing Sulphur dioxide and nitrous oxide emissions from coal-fired power plants and ship exhausts that have significant acidifying effects locally.
