Look more deeply into the facts

Substantiated by the world’s leading marine scientists, these facts highlight the importance of learning more about Ocean Acidification and its potential impacts on our environment.

• The huge amounts of atmospheric CO₂ being absorbed by the world’s oceans is making them more acidic than they have been for tens of millions of years.
• Coral Reefs provide habitat for at least a quarter of all marine species. Many of these face extinction if reefs disappear.
• The biodiversity and splendour of coral reefs are at risk of disappearing for thousands of years. This places in jeopardy an estimated 500 million people who depend on coral reefs for their daily food and income.
• The Great Barrier Reef generates over 6.5 billion dollars in tourism revenue and 63,000 jobs.
• If atmospheric CO₂ can be stabilised at 450 ppm, (one possible target that has been discussed by politicians) only 8% of existing tropical and subtropical coral reefs will still be in waters of the right pH level to support their growth.
• Within decades, Ocean Acidification will also start to have major impacts on temperate and polar water ecosystems. In fact, colder water absorbs higher levels of CO₂ than warmer water. Our polar seas are already so acidic that they are starting to dissolve some shells.

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