“We must do all that is necessary to protect the key components of the life of our planet as the consequences of decisions made now will likely be forever as far as humanity is concerned,” Sir David Attenborough said.
About a third of CO2 emissions are absorbed by open water. As oceans absorb CO2, they become more acidic, making it impossible for coral reefs like the Great Barrier Reef in Australia to survive. They also become prone to bleaching as the waters warm.
Sir David was joined by Alex Rogers, from the Zoological Society of London and scientific director of the International Programme on the State of the Oceans, who warned that reefs were safe at CO2 levels of 350 parts per million, whereas we are now at 387ppm today.
On current trends, we will reach 450 ppm in the next 20 years if the world continues to burn fossil fuels at the current rate. Once that figure is reached, the ocean will become too acidic for corals to survive.
Charlie Veron, former chief scientist of the Australian Institute of Marine Science, is another scientist warning of the dangers of inaction. “There is no way out, no loopholes. The Great Barrier Reef will be over within 20 years or so.”
If this happens it would be the world’s first global ecosystem to collapse.
And its going to happen in your lifetime.
– from priceofoil
Please reduce your consumption.