Ocean Acidity

Recent findings on the risk of the collapse of the oceans has brought CO2 back to the top of the list of the most acute threats in what has up until now been referred to as climate change. The new understanding of ocean acidity suggests that we must reduce the atmospheric CO2 level back to pre 1980's levels of 350ppm, or less, within less than 50 years. This is virtually unimaginable within the current framework of negotiations, and represents an urgency that has not previously been understood. To do so will not only require massive CO2 removal, but will require us to do so on a timeframe that will require a transformation of society on a par with the mobilization for WWII. The question will be whether society can recognize that this is necessary to avert the collapse of the biosphere as we know it, and act in time.

Planetwork Press Release on Ocean Acidification following the UNFCCC COP 16

Additional background:

IUCN Policy Makers Intro Guide on Ocean Acidity
http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/ocean_acidification_guide.pdf

Some good illustrations and explanations that non-scientists can understand
http://www.ocean-acidification.net/FAQacidity.html

Blog posts on Nature about Geological Society of America info on ocean acidification and effects
http://blogs.nature.com/news/thegreatbeyond/2010/11/ocean_ph_dropping_faster_than.html

wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_acidification

US government EPA publication
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/futureoa.html

IUNC briefing paper on Ocean Acidification
http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/ocean_acidification___briefing_paper_2010.pdf

IUCN Press Release from COP 15
http://www.iucn.org/unfccc/?4327/Stop-our-oceans-souring

Planetwork call to action circulated following COP 16