On Monday, October 8, Dr. Carol Turley will give a lecture titled Ocean Acidification: a global perspective. The lecture is hosted jointly by Iceland Nature Conservation Association and MFRI and will be held in the 1st floor auditorium at Skúlagata 4 and commences at 12:00 pm.
Abstract
A sustained effort by scientists around the world has resulted in a growing understanding of the vital and major role of the ocean in the Earth system; in absorbing >90% of the heat energy from global warming causing the ocean to warm, all the water from melting ice causing sea level rise and ~27% of the CO2 emissions to the atmosphere causing ocean acidification. These are resulting in rapid change to ocean physics and chemistry.
Ocean acidification and these other ocean stressors have the potential for widespread and significant effects on marine ecosystems that will also impact human society. It is therefore not surprising that there has also been strong policy contributions by ocean acidification researchers at the national and international level, including engagement with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the Convention on Biological Diversity and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change – recognising that ocean acidification and climate change share a common driver, increasing atmospheric CO2.
Ocean acidification must be part of the debate on emissions reduction and adaptation as the Paris Agreement is implemented. In particular, it brings additional arguments for encouraging governments and industry to reduce CO2 emissions, since that action will reduce the impact of both climate change and ocean acidification. There is therefore need to promote the inclusion of mitigation of, and adaptation to, the impacts of ocean acidification in policy relevant documents, regulation and funding instruments and platforms. Clearly there is a strong need for funding for international scientific collaboration and for cooperation for action at the policy level.
About Dr Turley