The changing composition of the world's oceans - acidification

The 12th meeting of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity is currently underway at Pyeongchang in South Korea (6-17 October, 2014). One of the research papers presented at the meeting has addressed the issue of ocean acidification. Acidification of the ocean, caused by increased level of absorption of carbon emissions, has often been cited and identified as major threat to the environment and marine life in particular. Increasingly the evidence of this serious threat to marine life has needed quantification which at last appears to have occured. The sea's acidity level has increased by over 26% during the past 200 years with impacts on corals, shellfish and other calcium-making organisms. The effect of acidification is most strongly felt by tropical coral reefs such as the Great Barrier Reef which is already exposed to warmer water. The impact extends beyond marine organisms and ecosystems but also to over 400 million people who depend on the ocean habitats for survival.

The link is below:

12th Meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity