8 October 2014: The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has compiled recent research on ocean acidification into its Technical Series No. 75, titled ‘An Updated Synthesis of the Impacts of Ocean Acidification on Marine Biodiversity.’ The report synthesizes the best available knowledge on acidification, explaining that while the globe has experienced acidification before, the changes happening today are occurring faster than at any time in at least the last 66 million years.

With a substantial amount of research through modeling, laboratory work and field studies released over the past few years, the report aims to give a clear synthesis of current knowledge on how ocean acidification is expected to affect marine life and, consequently, human society. The report acknowledges the complexity of estimating the ecological and financial costs, but suggests that losses to the world economy could amount to nearly US$1 trillion per year by 2100.

As highlighted in the report, tropical coral reefs alone support the livelihoods of 400 million people. These reefs, along with cold-water reefs, are highly vulnerable, putting dependent species at risk as well. The report shows that acidification will continue, even with substantial cuts to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, as will its highly detrimental effects on marine ecosystems and organisms. The authors stress the importance, then, of incorporating knowledge about acidification into policy making.

The Synthesis was launched at the 12th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 12) to the CBD on 8 October 2014. A team of over 30 experts from around the world contributed to the report, which was reviewed by CBD Parties. The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the UK Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) supported the project. [NERC Press Release] [Publication: An Updated Synthesis of the Impacts of Ocean Acidification on Marine Biodiversity]