Just four countries globally have regions to have published dedicated plans for tackling the threat posed by increasing seawater acidity levels, with the US taking the lead, a report has found.
Governments in nine US regions, one Canadian province, Sweden, and the Netherlands have published ocean acidification action plans so far, a report by research initiative Back to Blue, has found.
Ocean acidification, which is the rising acidity of seawater caused by CO2 emissions, poses a threat to communities and marine life. Around 30% of CO2 released into the atmosphere annually is absorbed by the ocean, according to the report seen by Carbon Pulse.
However, governments have been “slow to rise to this challenge”, despite many voicing concerns about ocean acidification, said Back to Blue, a collaboration between Economist Impact and Japanese non-profit the Nippon Foundation.
The regions below have published action plans dedicated to ocean acidification, excluding those that have published marine commitments as part of wider environmental initiatives.
Source: Back to Blue
“National action plans are highly desirable, but it is state governments on the US Pacific coast that have set the standard of ocean acidification action for the rest of the world to follow,” Back to Blue said.
“It is here that scientists first registered the deadly impacts of ocean acidification on marine life and the threat to coastal economies and jobs.”
Governments in these US states have committed to combatting ocean acidification with the help of “dedicated, detailed, and well-resourced action plans”.
The central government aims to publish a national action plan by the end of the year, according to Back to Blue.
Parts of US plans could be used by other countries such as their visions of success, timelines, assignments of ownership, and mandates for periodic reviews, the report said.
The Netherlands and Sweden have completed action plans, yet they “lack the detail and specific commitments included in the various US plans,” the report said.
Pacific island governments have yet to publish any action plans on the topic, despite leading the way in sustainable ocean policy in general.
UK LAGGING
The UK has acted on a few recommendations for monitoring ocean acidification, but has yet to deliver a comprehensive plan.
The border-crossing nature of the problem presents a key challenge for the UK government in addressing the issue, Thomas Pye, head of ocean climate change and science at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said.
“There’s quite a crowded multilateral space in terms of climate in the environment, and that can make it quite challenging for things like this to cut through,” Pye said during a panel session at a Back to Blue event in London on Tuesday.
“Clearly there’s a role for the likes of us in seeking to change that. I think for the central government, we would see some particular areas where we can hopefully help to drive solutions.” These include bringing governments together, raising awareness, and improving ocean literacy, he said.
NEW ZEALAND BEHIND
New Zealand has participated in international ocean acidification initiatives, such as the OA Action Group, but has yet to formalise an action plan.
Phil Goff, New Zealand’s high commissioner to the UK, said a key way for governments to boost private oceans engagement is by collaborating with the seafood industries set to be affected by acidification.
“We have major export industries in mussels and lobsters … they will line up with us and demand the same things,” Goff said in response to a question from Carbon Pulse.
Karen-Mae Hill, Antigua’s high commissioner to the UK, said her country, which is heavily reliant on coral reefs for its economy and climate resilience, was “punching above its weight” to address ocean-related issues.
SMALL-SCALE COMMONWEALTH ACTION
The Commonwealth Secretariat, which supports intergovernmental cooperation between member states, is also taking steps to support oceans.
Nicholas Hardman-Mountford, its head of oceans and natural resources, said the Commonwealth was collaborating with Canada on an initiative called ‘gem in a box’ that will provide low-cost equipment for monitoring excessive build-up of nutrients in oceans to countries.
The initiative is one of several small-scale projects for which the Commonwealth Blue Charter Incubator will announce its support later this year, Hardman-Mountford said.
“We really want to get more investment into that incubator fund so we can get more projects going. The data gaps are important. Governments, to take action on this, need science for decision making,” he said.
Jessie Turner, executive director of the International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification, said that despite the big gap in policy action, awareness of the threats was growing.
Nevertheless, “we need to be highlighting the policy and financing required to really respond to that information”, Turner said.
Her organisation outlined six actions to address the challenge:
- Reduce atmospheric CO2 emissions
- Advance scientific understanding of climate-ocean impacts
- Reduce local pollution that exacerbates ocean acidification
- Protect the environment and coastal communities from climate-ocean impacts
- Expand public awareness
- Sustain international and multi-governmental support for addressing this global problem
By Thomas Cox – t.cox@carbon-pulse.com
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