I. INTRODUCTION
In fact, the shells of
What is Ocean Acidification?
The process by which excess carbon dioxide in
the atmosphere dissolves in seawater, giving rise to a
decrease in pH and other changes in ocean carbonate
chemistry.
Causes of OA?
1. Burning coal, oil and gas
At least one-quarter of the carbon dioxide (CO2)
released by burning coal, oil and gas doesn't stay in
the air, but instead dissolves into the ocean. Since
the beginning of the industrial era, the ocean has
absorbed some 525 billion tons of CO2 from the
atmosphere, presently around 22 million tons per
day.
At first, scientists thought that this might be a
good thing because it leaves less carbon dioxide in
the air to warm the planet. But in the past decade,
theyve realized that this slowed warming has come
at the cost of changing the oceans chemistry.
2. What happens when there is too much Carbon
Dioxide in the water?
a. Water becomes more acidic
When carbon dioxide dissolves in seawater, the
water becomes more acidic and the oceans pH (a
measure of how acidic or basic the ocean is) drops.
Even though the ocean is immense, enough carbon
dioxide can have a major impact. In the past 200
years alone, ocean water has become 30 percent
more acidicfaster than any known change in
ocean chemistry in the last 50 million years.
Scientists formerly didnt worry about this
process because they always assumed that rivers
carried enough dissolved chemicals from rocks to
the ocean to keep the oceans pH stable. (Scientists
call this stabilizing effect buffering.) But so much
carbon dioxide is dissolving into the ocean so quickly
that this natural buffering hasnt been able to keep
up, resulting in relatively rapidly dropping pH in
surface waters. As those surface layers gradually
mix into deep water, the entire ocean is affected.
b. Negative effects on marine life
Such a relatively quick change in ocean
chemistry doesnt give marine life, which evolved
over millions of years in an ocean with a generally
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stable pH, much time to adapt.
some animals are already dissolving in the more
acidic seawater, and thats just one way that
acidification may affect ocean life. Overall, it's
expected to have dramatic and mostly negative
impacts on ocean ecosystemsalthough some
species (especially those that live in estuaries) are
finding ways to adapt to the changing conditions.
However, while the chemistry is predictable, the
details of the biological impacts are not. Although
scientists have been tracking ocean pH for more
than 30 years, biological studies really only started in
2003, when the rapid shift caught their attention and
the term "ocean acidification" was first coined. What
we do know is that things are going to look different,
and we can't predict in any detail how they will look.
Some organisms will survive or even thrive under
the more acidic conditions while others will struggle
to adapt, and may even go extinct. Beyond lost
biodiversity, acidification will affect fisheries and
aquaculture, threatening food security for millions of
people, as well as tourism and other sea-related
economies.
c. Reef building becomes slower, it slows down
coral growth.
d. Generally, shelled animalsincluding
mussels, clams, urchins and starfishare
going to have trouble building their shells in
more acidic water, just like the corals.
3. Carbonic Acid
Carbon dioxide is naturally in the air: plants need
it to grow, and animals exhale it when they breathe.
But, thanks to people burning fuels, there is now
more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than anytime
in the past 15 million years. Most of this CO2 collects
in the atmosphere and, because it absorbs heat from
the sun, creates a blanket around the planet, warming
its temperature. But some 30 percent of this CO2
dissolves into seawater, where it doesn't remain as
floating CO2 molecules. A series of chemical changes
break down the CO2molecules and recombine them
with others.
When carbon dioxide dissolves in this ocean,
carbonic acid is formed. This leads to higher acidity,
mainly near the surface, which has been proven to
inhibit shell growth in marine animals and is
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 suspected as a cause of reproductive disorders in
some fish.
On the pH scale, which runs from 0 to 14,
solutions with low numbers are considered acidic and
those with higher numbers are basic. Seven is
neutral. Over the past 300 million years, ocean pH
has been slightly basic, averaging about 8.2. Today, it
is around 8.1, a drop of 0.1 pH units, representing a
25-percent increase in acidity over the past two
centuries.
This Graph shows the increase in carbon dioxide
in the atmosphere and in the ocean, and the
decrease of the pH level of the ocean.
Present condition of waters
If the amount of carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere stabilizes, eventually buffering (or
neutralizing) will occur and pH will return to normal. This
is why there are periods in the past with much higher
levels of carbon dioxide but no evidence of ocean
acidification: the rate of carbon dioxide increase was
slower, so the ocean had time to buffer and adapt. But
this time, pH is dropping too quickly. Buffering will take
thousands of years, which is way too long a period of
time for the ocean organisms affected now and in the
near future.
So far, the signs of acidification visible to
humans are few. But they will only increase as more
carbon dioxide dissolves into seawater over time.

What can we do to stop it?

The most realistic way would be to reduce our
carbon emissions by burning less fossil fuels and finding
more carbon sinks, such as regrowing mangroves,
seagrass beds, and marshes, known as blue carbon. If
we did, over hundreds of thousands of years, carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere and ocean would stabilize
again.

4. Carbon Storehouse
Even if we stopped emitting all carbon right now,
The oceans currently absorb about a third of
ocean acidification would not end immediately. This is
human-created CO2 emissions, roughly 22 million
because there is a lag between changing our emissions
tons a day. Projections based on these numbers
and when we start to feel the effects. It's kind of like
show that by the end of this century, continued
making a short stop while driving a car: even if you slam
emissions could reduce ocean pH by another 0.5
the brakes, the car will still move for tens or hundreds of
units. Shell-forming animals including corals,
feet before coming to a halt. The same thing happens
oysters, shrimp, lobster, many planktonic organisms,
with emissions, but instead of stopping a moving vehicle,
and even some fish species could be gravely
the climate will continue to change, the atmosphere will
affected.
continue to warm and the ocean will continue to acidify.
Carbon dioxide typically lasts in the atmosphere for
Equally worrisome is the fact that as the oceans
hundreds of years; in the ocean, this effect is amplified
continue to absorb more CO2, their capacity as a
further as more acidic ocean waters mix with deep water
carbon storehouse could diminish. That means more
over a cycle that also lasts hundreds of years.
of the carbon dioxide we emit will remain in the
atmosphere, further aggravating global climate
change.

Scientific awareness of ocean acidification is

relatively recent, and researchers are just beginning
to study its effects on marine ecosystems. But all
signs indicate that unless humans are able to control
and eventually eliminate our fossil fuel emissions,
ocean organisms will find themselves under
II. ACTIONS MADE
increasing pressure to adapt to their habitat's
changing chemistry or perish
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International Action: Legal and Policy Frameworks
At The Global Level
1. Framework Conventions
a. United Nations Convention on the Law of the
Sea (UNCLOS)
It provides the overarching legal
framework for a number of agreements
on marine environmental protection and
marine species conservation.
It includes obligation that Parties protect
and preserve the marine environment.
States are required to take all measures
necessary to prevent, reduce and
control pollution of the marine
environment from any source which
includes pollution from or through the
atmosphere.
Parties should be mindful of steps to
develop and enforce rules to regulate
CO2.
b. United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC)
It addresses the reduction of global CO2
emissions and other greenhouse gases
required for the stabilization of
greenhouse gas concentrations in the
atmosphere at a level that would prevent
dangerous anthropogenic interference
with the climate system.
Could be interpreted to include an
obligation to take into account the
impacts of increasing atmospheric CO2
levels upon the ocean on the basis that:
(1) ocean is an integral part f the global
climate system or, (2) that ocean
acidification has feedback effects on
atmosphere components of climate and
as a threat to food production and
sustainable economic development.
Ocean acidification issue within the
UNFCC context occurs in the Cancun
Agreements in which it is listed as one
of many slow onset events caused by
climate change.
Through the UNFCCCs Subsidiary
Body for Scientific and Technological
Advice (SBTA) research dialogue, OA
has been identified since 2010 as one of
the most pressing emerging scientific
issues.
c. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
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It recognizes OA as a threat which may
accelerate the loss of marine biodiversity
and by association may threaten the
livelihoods and economies dependent on
the sustainable use of marine resources
and commercial exploitation of marine
genetic resources.
OA makes consequently impacts all three
objectives on which CBD is founded: (1)
conservation of biological diversity; (2)
sustainable use of its components and;
(3) equitable sharing of benefits.
2.Regional and Sectoral Agreements
a. Oslo and Paris Conventions (OSPAR)
OA first appeared in the OSPAR context
as a report distributed in 2006 as
Effects on the marine environment of
ocean acidification resulting from
elevated levels of CO2, in the
atmosphere containing an overview of
ecosystem sensitivity to CO2 exposure.
Recommendations in 2009 included the
need to make additional efforts to
enhance knowledge about the
vulnerability of species, habitats and
ecological processes and interaction of
these with pressures from human
activities of the sea.
b. Regional and Fishery Agreements; Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United
Nations
Achieving food security for all is at the
heart of the FAO. The FAOs Fisheries
and Aquaculture Departments focus is
to strengthen global governance and the
managerial and technical capacities of
members and lead consensus-building
towards improved conservation and
utilization of aquatic resources.
Within this scope, Regional Fishery
Bodies (RFBs) are mechanism through
which States that are parties to
international fishery agreement work
together towards the conservation,
management, development of
sustainable fisheries.
c. Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic
Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR)
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 The objective is the conservation of
Antarctic marine living resources,
including rational use. This was in
response to increasing commercial
interest in Antarctic krill resources, a
keystone component of the ecosystem.
d. London Convention and Protocol
One of the first global conventions to
protect the marine environment from
human activities. The objective is to
promote effective control of all sources
of marine pollution and to take all
practicable steps to prevent pollution of
the sea.
The amendments regulate the
sequestration of CO2 streams into sub-
seabed geological formations from CO2
capture processes, for permanent
isolation.
Policy processes
1. United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)
Encouraged States to enhance scientific activity
to better understand the effects of climate change on the
marine environment and marine biodiversity and develop
ways and means of adaptation.
Stressed the importance of scientific
understanding of oceans/atmosphere interface.
Recognized the importance of raising awareness
of the adverse impact of climate change on the marine
environment and marine biodiversity.
Called for improved efforts to address coral
bleaching.
Informal Consultative Process (ICP) in 2013
addressed ocean acidification.
The General Assembly in its oceans and law of
the sea resolutions:
o Encouraged States and competent
international organization and other
institutions to:
Urgently pursue further research
in ocean acidification
Increase national, regional and
global efforts to address levels of
ocean acidity
o Based on Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC) findings,
expressed concern over the substantial
risks to marine ecosystems, especially
polar ecosystems and coral reefs, and
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potentially detrimental consequences for
fisheries and livelihoods.
o Expressed concern over the increase in
the acidity of ocean surface waters since
the beginning of industrial era.
Source: Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the
Sea
2. From Rio to Rio +20
The Rio +20 outcome document The Future We
Want reflects the international communitys call
for support to initiatives that address ocean
acidification. The world community expressed
profound alarm that emissions of greenhouse
gases continue to rise globally and reiterated
that all countries, particularly developing
countries, are vulnerable to its adverse impacts,
including ocean acidification.
United States
In 2009, Congress passed legislation focused
squarely on ocean acidification, establishing a
federal interagency working group on the issue,
and a research program within the National
Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA).
As of 2016, the only country with an ocean
acidification law - Federal Ocean Acidification
Research and Monitoring Act (FOARAM) that
outlines a commitment to long term ocean
acidification monitoring and research. Scientists
from countries around the world seek out NOAA
scientists for expert advice on ocean
acidification topics.
NOAA Ocean Acidification Program provided
resources in 2012 to hold the 1st international
scientific meeting of OA scientists which led to
the launch the Global Ocean Acidification
Observing Network in 2013. Dr. Jan Newton,
Oceanographer at the University of Washington
hosted the 1st global ocean acidification
scientific meeting at the University of
Washington and has continued to be a leader of
the network.
NOAA OAP helped organize and lead the most
recent 3rd international scientific workshop of
GOA-ON held in Hobart, Australia in May 2016.
As of August 2016, more than 300 scientists
from 67 countries have joined as network
members of GOA-ON.
Source: NOAA Ocean Acidification Program
Germany
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 Germanys Biological Impacts Of Ocean
Acidification (BIOACID) program, for example,
explores the responses of marine species to an
acidifying ocean and to multiple related
stressors.
BIOACID has contributed to quantifying the
effects of ocean acidification on marine
organisms and their habitats, unravelling the
mechanisms underlying the observed
responses, assessing the potential for
evolutionary adaptation, and determining how
these responses are modulated by other
environmental drivers.
BIOACID aims to synthesize the information
gained on ocean acidification impacts in an
integrated assessment of sensitivities and
uncertainties in order to identify the potential
thresholds associated with ocean acidification,
evaluate possible socio-economic
consequences, identify management options
and communicate its knowledge towards a wide
audience, ranging from the scientific community,
stakeholders and decision makers to the general
public.
Source: BIOACID
Philippines
o Activities Related to Ocean Acidification
1. Collaboration with US NOAA
Deployment of OA instrumentation
to establish baseline observations
and initiate OA monitoring support
decision making in the Philippines.
Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structure
(ARMS) -mimic complexity of coral reefs to
monitor cryptic reef diversity.
Calcification Acidification Units (CAUs) -
Proxy to measure and compare spatial
patterns of net carbonate production on
coral reefs across the Pacific Islands.
2. Shelf-Pacific Interaction in Luzon (SPIL)
Characterize interaction between
shelf and western boundary current
Understand role of shelf-ocean
interaction to productivity of both
shelf and off-shelf waters.
3. Student dissertation and thesis
Effect of ocean acidification
- on coral species used for coral
restoration (Acropora, Porites,
Heliopora)
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Spatio-temporal behavior of carbonate
parameters
Completed thesis: Carbonate
Chemistry of the High and Low
Productivity Areas of the Sulu Sea
o On-going work on ocean acidification
-Coral restoration in reef ecosystems
Measures and Laws to Prevent Or Reverse Ocean
Acidification
LAWS
1. FOSSIL FUEL EMISSIONS gases that are spewed
out of most cars, airplanes, power plants, and
factories that are burning fossil fuels (coal, oil or gas)
a. Climate Change Law of 2009 (RA. 9729)
i. An act mainstreaming climate change into
government policy formulations, establishing
the framework strategy and program on
climate change, creating for this purpose the
climate change commission, and for other
purposes.
ii. Adopted the Philippine Agenda 21 framework
which espouses sustainable development,
to fulfill human needs while maintaining the
quality of the natural environment for current
and future generations.
iii. As a party to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change, the State
adopts the ultimate objective of the
Convention which is the stabilization of
greenhouse gas concentrations in the
atmosphere at a level that would prevent
dangerous anthropogenic interference with
the climate system which should be
achieved within a time frame sufficient to
allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to
climate change.
iv. Created the Climate Change Commission
1. The policy-making body of the
government which shall be tasked to
coordinate, monitor and evaluate the
programs and action plans of the
government relating to climate
change pursuant to the provisions of
this Act.
2. Shall, within six (6) months from the
effectivity of this Act, formulate a
Framework Strategy on Climate
Change.
a. basis for a program for climate
change planning, research and
development, extension, and
5
 monitoring of activities to protect
vulnerable communities from
the adverse effects of climate
change.
v. The LGUs shall be the frontline agencies in
the formulation, planning and
implementation of climate change action
plans in their respective areas, consistent
with the provisions of the Local Government
Code, the Framework, and the National
Climate Change Action Plan.
vi. Role of Government Agencies
1. Department of Education (DepEd)
shall integrate climate change into
the primary and secondary
education curricula and/or subjects,
such as, but not limited to, science,
biology, sibika, history, including
textbooks, primers and other
educational materials, basic climate
change principles and concepts
2. Department of Interior and Local
Government (DILG) facilitate the
development and provision of a
training program for LGUs in climate
change.
3. Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR)
oversee the establishment and
maintenance of a climate change
information management system
and network, including on climate
change risks, activities and
investments, in collaboration with
other concerned national
government agencies, institutions
and LGUs.
4. Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)
review international agreements
related to climate change and make
necessary recommendation for
ratification and compliance by the
government on matters pertaining
thereto.
5. Philippine Information Agency (PIA)
disseminate information to climate
change, local vulnerabilities and
risk, relevant laws and protocols and
adaptation and mitigation measures.
6. Government Financial Institutions
provide preferential financing
packages for climate change-related
projects.
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b. Renewable Energy Act of 2008 (RA 9513)
i. Section 3. Scope. - This Act shall establish
the framework for the accelerated
development and advancement of
renewable energy resources, and the
development of a strategic program to
increase its utilization.
ii. The law affirmed the governments
commitment to accelerate the exploration
and development of Philippine renewable
energy resources.
iii. RA 9513 declared the States policy to
achieve energy security by reducing reliance
on fossil fuels and minimizing exposure to
price fluctuations in oil markets.
iv. Seeks to increase the utilization of
renewable energy resources by developing
national and local capabilities in the use of
renewable energy systems, and promoting
their efficient and effective application by
offering fiscal and non-fiscal incentives.
1. These incentives include: (1)
income tax holiday; (2) duty-free
importation of renewable
machinery, equipment, and
materials; (3) special realty tax
rates; (4) net operating loss
carry-over; (5) corporate tax rate
of 10%; (6) accelerated
depreciation of plant, machinery,
and equipment; (7) 0% value-
added tax rate; (8) tax
exemption on carbon credits;
and (9) cash incentive for
missionary electrification.
c. Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 (RA 8749)
i. The Clean Air Act was envisioned to fight air
pollution by : (1) Reducing emissions from
motor vehicles (which account for 80
percent of the air pollution) from factories
and power plants (which account for the
remaining 20 percent); (2) Improving fuel
quality to reduce or eliminate lead in
gasoline and sulfur in diesel; (3) Reducing
traffic congestion and improving traffic flow;
(4) Strengthening quality monitoring,
evaluation and reporting through hi-tech
equipment; and (5) Preventing other sources
of pollution such as incinerators, garbage
burning and smoking.
ii. Outlines the governments measures to
reduce air pollution and incorporate
environmental protection into its
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 development plans. It relies heavily on the
polluter pays principle and other market-
based instruments to promote self-regulation
among the population.
Iii. Sets emission standards for all motor
vehicles and issues pollutant limitations for
industry. Emission limit values are laid down
by The Department of Environment and
Natural Resources, Philippines as
Implementing Rules and Regulations for
Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999.
iv. As a regulatory government body, the
DENR-EMB (Environmental Management
Bureau) provides Air Pollution clearances
and Permits for Stationary Sources or
industries that inadvertently produce air
pollution. These permits are the control
mechanisms in managing pollutants that are
released into the air. Permits, emission
quota and financial liability for environmental
rehabilitation are prerequisites before any
business that degrades air quality can be
allowed
v. Section 20 of the law clearly states a ban on
incineration which is the burning of
municipal, biomedical and hazardous
waste, which process emits poisonous and
toxic fumes.
1. However, traditional methods of
burning or small-scale method
of community/neighborhood
sanitation (siga) are still
allowed.
d. The Paris Agreement
i. The Paris Agreement builds upon the
Convention and for the first time brings
all nations into a common cause to
undertake ambitious efforts to combat
climate change and adapt to its effects, with
enhanced support to assist developing
countries to do so. As such, it charts a new
course in the global climate effort.
ii. Aim is to strengthen the global response to
the threat of climate change by keeping a
global temperature rise this century well
below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-
industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit
the temperature increase even further to 1.5
degrees Celsius.
iii. The Paris Agreement requires all Parties to
put forward their best efforts through
nationally determined contributions (NDCs)
and to strengthen these efforts in the years
OCEAN ACIDIFICATION
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ahead. This includes requirements that all
Parties report regularly on their emissions
and on their implementation efforts.
Iv. The Philippine economy, the 39th largest in
the world, has experienced a 5.6% growth in
its gross domestic product (GDP), mainly
due to the growth of its industrial and
services sectors powered by fossil fuels.
With further industrialization to come, the
urgency of meeting the increasing energy
demand pushes government policy lean
towards coal, making it more difficult for the
nation to fulfill its obligations under the Paris
agreement.
e. Intended Nationally Determined
Contributions (INDC) to the UN Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
i. The INDC identifies a country's climate
change mitigation and adaptation actions
that will be implemented beyond 2020.
Ii. Philippines committed to reduce its carbon
emissions (CO2) by 70 percent by 2030,
which will come from the energy, transport,
waste, forestry and industry sectors.
iii. Climate Change Commission Secretary
Lucille Sering said the initial commitments
are anchored on the policy declaration under
the Climate Change Law of 2009, as
amended in 2012, that the State shall
cooperate with the global community in the
resolution of climate change issues.
2. DEFORESTATION Burning down forests is similar
to burning fossil fuels, it emits a lot of carbon dioxide
into the atmosphere. Deforestation not only creates
more CO2, but it also destroys one of the very things
that helps absorb it.
a. Forestry Reform Code of the Philippines (PD
705)
i. Section 38. Control of concession area The
utilization of timber therein shall not be
allowed except through license agreement.
1. Gives the privilege to cut all the
allowable harvestable timber
and the right of occupation,
possession, and control over the
same.
2. But with the obligation to adopt
all the protection and
conservation measures to
ensure the continuity of the
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 productive condition of said
areas
ii. Section 53. Criminal Prosecution.
Kaingineros, squatters, cultural minorities
and other occupants who entered into forest
lands before the effectivity of this Code,
without permits or authority, shall not be
prosecuted: Provided, That they do not
increase their clearings: Provided, further,
That they undertake, within two (2) months
from the notice thereof, the activities which
will be imposed upon them by the Bureau in
accordance with a management plan
calculated to conserve and protect forest
resources.
iii. Section 69. Unlawful occupation or
destruction of forest lands. Any person who:
1. enters and occupies or
possesses, or makes kaingin for
his own private use or for others
any forest land without authority
under a license agreement,
lease, license or permit, or in
any manner.
2. destroys such forest land or part
thereof, or causes any damage
to the timber stand and other
products and forest growths
found therein, or whoassists,
aids or abets any other person
to do so, or sets a fire, or
negligently permits a fire to be
set in any forest land shall, upon
conviction, be
Fine: P500 P20,000
Imprisonment: 6 months 2 years
Pay: 10 times the rental fees and other charges
which would have been accrued had the
occupation been authorized.
Provided: in case the offender is guilty of
kaingin, the penalty shall be imprisonment for 2-
4 years and a fine equal to 8 times the regular
forest charges due on the forest products
destroyed, without prejudice to the payment of
the full cost of restoration of the occupied area
as determined by the bureau.
III. CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATIONS
Ocean Acidification in a nutshell is the increase
of carbon dioxide absorption by the ocean, which
consequently increases its acidity level. The increase of
acidity of the ocean affects the living conditions of the
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living creatures in it and makes it unsustainable for a lot
of them to live in which leads to the slow extinction of
some of them.
As mentioned, about 30 percent of the CO2
dissolves into the ocean hence the only sustainable
solution is for the reduction of carbon emissions. And
such solution can be achieved through proper local
regulations, proper education on OA, geo-engineering,
regulations on fossil fuel production, carbon foot print
reduction, efficient energy use, support of environmental
initiatives, and similar actions.
A more concrete solution was introduced by the
Ocean Acidification International Reference User Group,
which they call the Monaco Action Plan. This consists of
10 movements that will serve as a guideline, namely:
1. Shift the emphasis of scientific research from
individual species to ecosystems, in order to
understand impacts on food webs and to assist
the parameterization of models.
2. Devise long-term experimental studies to
understand adaptation as well as acclimation.
3. Consider multiple factors, underlying principles,
and natural variability to gain better confidence
of future impacts under real world conditions.
4. Support efforts to reduce anthropogenic CO2
emissions at sufficient scale and speed to avoid
dangerous climate change and dangerous
ocean acidification.
5. Invest in prudent adaptive marine management
approaches to best manage carbon sinks, to
foster greater ecosystem resilience, and protect
genetic diversity.
6. Match the development of ocean acidification
observational networks to the needs of
communities, industries, regions and
governments in order to secure the scale of
investment
and support needed to develop forecasting
capabilities.
7. Sustain international collaborative coordination
efforts that support national research programs,
maintain standards, data and common systems,
support effective deployment and interpretation
of monitoring efforts, and enhance
communication with end user communities.
8. Identify and develop relationships with new
stakeholders that are likely to be affected by
ocean acidification.
9. Support research to map the current and
projected economic impacts of ocean
acidification.
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 10. Invest in education and communication, aimed
at a wide public audience, and scientific training
to support capacity development in vulnerable
regions that currently lack such capabilities.
Moreover, the international society has not been
short in terms of action in addressing this. As provided,
numerous committees and movements have already
been made. To note, the famous Paris Agreement, the
agreement, which was set to address and set a solution
for the ongoing increase of carbon emissions.
On a smaller scale, individuals can also help
reduce OA by taking sustainable living standards. Such
as:
Utilization of non-carbon emitting modes of
transportation (ie. Walking, biking) and
utilization of mass transportation
Consumption of humanely sourced foof (non-
processed)
Utilization of more energy-sufficient appliances
Recycling
Planting of trees
Further, individuals can also take the extra step by
helping spread awareness of the situation by:
Educating immediate friends and family of
sustainable living
Staring community action groups
Writing local legislators and demanding action
Creation of ride share activities and recycling
movements
Starting of tree-planting and conservation
programs
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And similar activities
Ocean acidification will continue worsening in
the coming years and it shall be grave injustice for the
children of tomorrow to suffer from the consequences of
the peoples action today. It has been held in the famous
Oposa v. Factoran case, where intergenerational equity
was upheld and the Supreme Court held that future
generations have equal rights to the enjoy natural
resources. Hence, it is every citizens duty to take care of
the environment to help preserved this for future
generations to come. Moreover, action has to be done,
because unless action is taken soon to control carbon
emission, this shall only continue to rise (and is already
rising drastically) to dangerous levels which, in turn, shall
turn it into a toxic environment for marine life. All
individuals just have to take action and do their part in
helping taking care of this world and make it a better
place to live in.
REFERENCES:
http://ocean.si.edu/ocean-acidification
http://ocean.nationalgeographic.com/ocean/explore/pristi
ne-seas/critical-issues-ocean-acidification/
http://www.eartheclipse.com/environment/causes-
effects-solutions-of-ocean-acidification.html
http://oceana.org/sites/default/files/Climate_change_and
_Ocean_acidifciation_-
_Synergies_and_opportunities_under_the_UNFCCC_De
c_2_0_0.pdf
http://www.fpa2.org/documents/MonacoActionPlan_en.p
df
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