Starting the New Year and Reflections on COP25

Acidifying waters spell big trouble for our fisheries, aquaculture, and marine ecosystems and the communities that rely on them. A report released just this week by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) projects that ocean acidification threatens to cause billions of dollars in damage to the U.S. economy, harming everything from crabs in Alaska to coral reefs in Florida and the Caribbean.

The good news is that if we act now — we can make a difference. We have the ability to change the course of ocean acidification with local actions and leadership.

The OA Alliance is proud to kick-off the New Year by releasing a video that calls on governments to take action now by advancing policy solutions across climate agreement frameworks and by creating Ocean Acidification (OA) Action Plans.

As President of the COP, the government of Chile worked with national partners and other non-Party stakeholders to ensure that the ocean was highlighted and played a central role in discussions and negotiations.  The “Blue COP” was an important milestone for ensuring that findings of the IPCC SROCC are acknowledged across the UNFCCC and paves the way for the next decade of ocean and climate leadership.

The final COP25 decision, Chile Madrid Time for Action, includes several references to the importance of incorporating ocean mitigation and adaptation into the climate change agenda.

 Read more about COP25 outcomes and OA Alliance activities in our full January 2020 Newsletter.