Ocean Acidification

The ocean is often referred to as the heart of the planet — from generating over half the air we breathe to absorbing excess carbon in the atmosphere, serving as home to millions of species, and providing important resources to coastal and inland communities. But, when precious ocean resources and the surrounding environment are not sustainably managed or decisions are made without intentional input from coastal communities, frontline communities, and Indigenous Communities, negative impacts like ocean acidification, decreased marine biodiversity, coastal erosion, environmental injustices, and sea-level rise can emerge. This briefing book is intended to provide an overview of some of these major ocean topics that state legislators across the country are contending with, using existing policies to illustrate how introducing legislation to remedy one ocean issue can have significant co-benefits across coastal ecosystems.

Ocean acidification (OA) is the name for the process of the oceans becoming more acidic due to increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This change threatens ocean ecosystems, the food chain and the livelihood of coastal residents. As the ocean absorbs carbon dioxide, it reacts with water molecules to form carbonic acid, thereby increasing the overall acidity. This puts commercially and culturally important species such as lobsters, clams and oysters at risk. More information is needed about the extent of these changes in specific regions and how to best mitigate those effects.