Ocean Acidification

#Ocean #acidification is a process that occurs when carbon dioxide (#co2) from the atmosphere dissolves in #seawater, leading to a decrease in the pH of the ocean. This decrease in pH can have a variety of negative impacts on marine ecosystems.

When the pH of the ocean decreases, it becomes more acidic, which can make it more difficult for certain marine organisms to build and maintain their shells and skeletons. This can have significant impacts on the growth and survival of these organisms, including #corals, mollusks, and some types of plankton. Additionally, ocean acidification can alter the composition of marine ecosystems, potentially leading to changes in the abundance and distribution of different species.

The United Nations (#UN) has recognized the issue of ocean acidification as a significant threat to the health and resilience of marine ecosystems. The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (#IPCC) has included ocean acidification as a key aspect of its assessments on the impacts of #climatechange on the world's oceans.

In 2015, the United Nations launched the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which include a specific target (SDG 14.3) to "minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels."

To support this goal, the United Nations has established various initiatives and programs aimed at addressing ocean acidification. For example, the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization ( 联合国粮农组织 ) has developed a Global Action for the Conservation of the Coral Reefs program, which includes efforts to monitor and mitigate the impacts of ocean acidification on coral reefs.