CO2 emissions threaten ocean life.

Countries around the world are urgently discussing directions and measures to prevent the devastating threat of climate change to humanity. The impact of CO2 greenhouse gas emissions in general has been discussed, but its threat to the oceans has not been adequately recognized…

In the BBC's Science section, author Roger Harrabin wrote an article presenting the opinions of about twenty-two leading marine scientists worldwide on the threat that global warming, or climate change, poses to the oceans.

The oceans are under threat from the effects of climate change. Photo: BBC.

In particular, a general report to the media by these scientists warned that life in the oceans will change irreversibly unless CO2 emissions are drastically reduced.

Scientists emphasize that even the climate change requirement of a maximum temperature increase of 2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels, as approved by governments, will not prevent the powerful impacts on the global ocean system.

They argue that the oceans are facing dangerous risks from a combination of different threats related to CO2. Specifically, the oceans are warming, losing oxygen, and becoming more acidic due to CO2.

According to those experts, it is a clear fact that CO2, from the burning of fossil fuels, is now changing the chemical properties of the oceans faster than at any time since the Great Dying 250 million years ago.

They presented specific figures: the ocean has absorbed nearly 30% of the carbon dioxide that humanity has produced since 1750, and because CO2 is a light, acidic gas, it is making seawater more acidic. In addition, along with climate change, the oceans have absorbed more than 90% of the heat released by society and industry since 1970. This excess heat makes it more difficult for the ocean to retain oxygen in its water.

Recent experiments have shown that while many organisms may be able to withstand the predicted future warming of CO2, or lower pH or oxygen levels, not all of these phenomena will occur simultaneously as they are now. Researchers note that at some point, these phenomena will appear simultaneously, and their combination will create an unpredictable threat to the lives of organisms in the oceans.

According to researcher Carol Turley, the oceans play a vital role for ecosystems, including humanity. "The oceans provide us with food, energy, minerals, medicine, and half the oxygen in the atmosphere, and they regulate our climate and weather." Therefore, she calls on "policymakers to recognize the potential consequences and to further enhance the role and image of the ocean in international negotiations, wherever they may be." Unfortunately, this is "almost never mentioned."

Researchers also warn that politicians, despite their efforts to address climate change issues, are paying the price for paying too little attention to the impacts of climate change on the oceans. More precisely, they have only focused on the rising sea levels leading to the disappearance of many islands, the submersion of many maritime areas, and even some countries.

In conclusion, I would like to offer a timely observation and proposal from a leading researcher, Jean-Pierre Gattuso: The oceans have been considered secondary and not formally discussed in climate negotiations until now. The above valid arguments are intended to urgently propose the inclusion of the issue of CO2 threatening ocean life into the agenda of the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Summit (COP-21) in Paris in December 2015.

According to Vietnamnet