Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, 1760, to date there has been a significant increase in the acidity of marine waters: the pH has dropped from 8,2 to 8,1, a decrease that seems slight, but in reality is equivalent to an increase of 30%.
This progressive acidification is caused by excessive emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂), in fact, 33% of the latter are absorbed by the waters of the seas and oceans through an absorption system called the carbon cycle.
As soon as carbon dioxide comes into contact with water, it reacts with it, giving rise to carbon acid which in turn releases H+ ions responsible for progressive acidification.
The marine habitat is at risk, if carbon dioxide emissions do not decrease, the acidity of the oceans could increase considerably, compromising the marine ecosystem, this is because marine organisms may not adapt due to the speed of change.
Carbonate ions make up the shells, exoskeletons and shells of marine organisms, but the high acidity of marine waters causes a chemical reaction that consumes carbonate ions and produces hydrogen carbonate ions, therefore the absence of carbonate ions would not allow the animals to form shells, thus threatening the life of organisms that would be corroded by increased acidity.
Goal 14 of the UN (United Nations) 2030 Agenda protects the oceans, seas and marine resources, and also aims to minimise and tackle the effects of ocean acidification.
To avoid terrible problems such as mass extinction of marine species, food insecurity and serious damage to the world economy, CO₂ emissions must be reduced, only in this way can we begin the climb towards a more ecological world and leave and a better world to our posterity.
Mariacarla Frippa
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