Preventing oceans from absorbing excessive amounts of carbon dioxide which decreases its pH.
A global overview
Around one quarter of the carbon dioxide emitted by human activity is eventually dissolved in the oceans, where it forms carbonic acid and decreases the pH of the surface water. This acidity reduces the availability of carbonate ions that are an essential building block used by many marine species for shell and skeleton formation. This missing ingredient makes it hard for organisms such as corals, shellfish and plankton to grow and survive, thus endangering the ocean ecosystem and its food chain.
How is digital tech relevant to ocean acidification?
Areas of tension
These are the issues, negative impacts and concerns collectively raised by the attendees from our pilot workshops.
For the global population
- Digital tech consumes more electricity, which currently creates significant carbon emissions and accelerates the issue.