COP18: Strong action needed in Doha as world’s oceans reach
tipping point
05 December 2012
From Qatar:
COP18 UN Climate Change Conference 2012
At the recent COP18 UN Climate Change Conference 2012, Dr
Carol Turley OBE, a Senior Scientist and ocean
acidification expert at PML, spoke in a video interview
about the three key impacts on our oceans; warming waters, ocean
acidification and de-oxygenation.
During the interview Dr Turley warned that whilst we now
understand the chemical impacts of raising CO2 for our
oceans, less is known about the impacts this will have on our
marine ecosystems (though there is clear evidence that these
organisms respond negatively to the increased carbon dioxide). Dr
Turley also went on to suggest that there is a
'perfect storm' approaching – though we may not be able to see,
smell or touch it, which will carry on for tens of thousands of
years. As humans are dependant on the sea for a vast
amount of services - with one billion people
depending solely on the oceans for the protein in their diets
- awareness of these negative impacts is
vitally important.
Dr Turley refers to a tipping point we are now approaching
and stressed that the next ten to fifteen years
are crucial, calling on politicians in Doha to take positive
action on reducing CO2 emissions and also to discuss how
communities will be able to adapt to ocean acidification and
warming.
The interview can be
viewed here.