COP16 Wrap-up: Acidification Gains Visibility - Oceana USA
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December 22, 2010

COP16 Wrap-up: Acidification Gains Visibility

The climate change negotiations in Cancun, Mexico have drawn to a close, and another year of trying to figure out what to do about climate change has come and gone.

On the bright side, ocean acidification seemed more prevalent than in past years, which is a great triumph for the oceans. Oceana has been working to incorporate ocean acidification into the UNFCCC process, and to gain wider acknowledgement of this consequence of carbon dioxide emissions. This year ocean acidification seemed to be more easily recognized and understood, which is a step in the right direction. Much work remains to be done.

Awareness for ocean acidification was certainly raised at this international meeting, but unfortunately, COP16 was not able to reach any real commitments to reduce emissions enough to halt the effects on our planet and the oceans. Time is ticking, and as more time passes, it becomes less likely that we will be able to prevent the worst consequences of ocean acidification and climate change.

Read the paper Ways to Incorporate Ocean Acidification into the UNFCCC, and watch a video of Oceana marine scientist Ellycia Harrould Kolieb’s talk on ocean acidification at COP16.

You can help by sending a message to Congress to stop ocean acidification.