United Nations Radio

As we commemorate the first observation by the UN of World Oceans Day, scientists at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are joining forces with marine experts around the world to call for urgent action to control what they refer to as the "other CO2 problem" - ocean acidification.

Sewage discharges into ocean

Angela Leuker of the IAEA reports:
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Leuker: The oceans - home to countless species of marine life, a vital resource for food and medicine and a major source of income for the tourism industry. But these precious waters are also a sink for around a quarter of the carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere by human activity. When CO2 is mixed with water, it produces carbonic acid, leading to an acidity of the oceans. Scientist James Orr from the IAEA Marine Environment Laboratories in Monaco is a leading researcher into ocean acidification.

Orr: We can thank the ocean, we can be very thankful that the ocean has taken us up, meaning that the CO2 level in the atmosphere is lower than it would be in a world without an ocean. But the bad news is that this is having an effect on the level of acidity in the ocean and that some organisms are very sensitive to that level, organisms such as corral or anything that builds a shell in the ocean.

Leuker: Oceans have been absorbing CO2 since the onset of the industrial revolution over 200 years ago. But it is only in the last five years that scientists have started to realize this is a major problem. Now, over 150 marine scientists from 26 countries have joined forces to issue a statement known as the Monaco Declaration on Ocean Acidification.  The IAEA Marine Laboratory plays a key role in this initiative.

Orr: The Monaco Declaration is really a plea to policy makers to become aware of ocean acidification, that it is the other CO2 problem, that it should be taken into account in future negotiations concerning climate, which ultimatey means the CO2 level.

Leuker: In line with one of the Declaration's main recommendations, 2:05 IAEA marine scientists are teaming up with economists to evaluate the economic impact of ocean acidification. The idea is to assess the costs for action vs. inaction with regard to carbon emissions. One of the initiators, scientist Ross Jeffry says this is the way to get governments to pay attention.

Jefrey: To do that, you have to bring the scientists together with the natural resource economists to get them talking to each other.

Leuker: A group of scientists and economists will focus on the economic impacts of ocean a codification on the fishing industry, aquaculture and tourism. And although the the science is young, the experts say its predictions for the global marine environment are so startling, it's best to start the dialogue now.

Jeffrey: As the science comes out, they get updated on what it looks like and they can make some estimations. We are talking about scales of impacts here. We are not looking for absolute certainty because we can't wait that long. The modelling is indicating we are going to have an effect by 2050. Some of the indications are that coral reefs wont be able to maintain themselves by 2050. We have to get people talking to each other now to give good advice to government and get them to structure their economies so that they are decarbonized.

Leuker: According to the Monaco Declaration, the negative social and economic impacts of ocean acidification can only be limited by cutting back on the number of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. But carbon emissions are currently increasing by about three percent a year.

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Leuker: So unless action is taken soon, we risk serious damage to one of our most precious natural resources.

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(duration: 4'06")