d). Climate change and managing carbon budgets.
Sea level rise and change in ecosystem status due to changing temperatures, from coral
bleaching to impacts upon migration patterns, have been discussed at length in diverse
international fora and need not be re-stated here. Relatively new issues on the agenda,
however, are Ocean Acidification and Blue Carbon.
Acidification: Oceans are estimated to have absorbed approximately 25% of
anthropogenic carbon dioxide since the commencement of the industrial revolution
resulting in a 26% increase in the acidity of the Ocean
. Ocean acidification is known
to have a significant impact; many organisms show adverse effects, such as reduced
ability to form and maintain shells and skeletons, as well as reduced survival, growth,
abundance and larval development. Acidification will also affect carbon accretion in