Climate Change Threatening Ocean Life

The world’s oceans are becoming more acidic due to the effects of climate change, scientists reported on June 1st 2009, adding that oceanic life is being imperilled as a result. 

No less than 70 academies located around the globe added input to a mass joint release, the content of which will likely be discussed by political leaders at climate change discussions which are taking place in Germany over the next fortnight.

“To avoid substantial damage to ocean ecosystems, deep and rapid reductions of carbon dioxide emissions of at least 50 percent [below 1990 levels] by 2050, and much more thereafter, are needed”, the release urged.

Ocean Ecosystems

According to the scientists, oceans the world-over are taking in increasing levels of atmospheric CO2, with the result that ocean ecosystems are at risk.  In particular, sea creatures are having greater difficulty in developing body parts meant to protect them – body parts that they referred to as “building blocks needed by many marine organisms, such as corals and shellfish, to produce their skeletons, shells and other hard structures.”

What’s more, coral reefs, they said, “may be dissolving globally”, if the volume of atmospheric CO2 reaches 550 ppm (part per million): the present level standing at 387ppm.

In terms of the duration of these changes, the scientists suggested a long-term scenario.  “These changes in ocean chemistry are irreversible for many thousands of years”, they stressed, adding: “...the biological consequences could last much longer.”

Among the organisations represented was Britain’s Royal Society, the President of which, Martin Rees, spoke of how an “underwater catastrophe” could occur.  “The effects will be seen worldwide, threatening food security, reducing coastal protection and damaging the local economies that may be least able to tolerate it”, Mr Rees added.

Aside from Britain, countries including the US, Japan, France and Australia were also represented in the statement,

Based on computer-based forecasting, the oceans, the scientists concluded, had the potential to become “more acidic than they have been for millions of years.”

To depressurise the seas, the statement called for action against activities including over-fishing and marine pollution.

Representatives from 190 nations are due to meet up at the end of the year in Copenhagen, Denmark, to forge a replacement climate change treaty to replace the 12-year-old Kyoto Protocol.