Global ocean governance and ocean acidification

Abstract

Sylvia Earle stated in her prize winning 2009 TED talk that “No water, no life. No blue, no green” (Earle 2009), calling for action to protect the Ocean. As part of the realization of Agenda 2030, the UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals, that are considered both aspirational and global in reach, were adopted in September 2015. This includes among others the “SDG14 Life below water”. The goals are accompanied by targets that have to be met individually as well as collectively by the signatory states, and it is also a framework whereby the global community provides a shared future vision, and a guide for not only governments, but also industry, nonprofit organizations and the community. Humankind is asked to work together for a better world, below water. One of the ten targets focuses on the need to “Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels” (target 14.3). Ocean acidification (OA) is the only by-product of climate change and greenhouse gas emission that was included under this goal unlike ocean warming, changes to salinity and ocean circulation, and sea level rise (United Nations 2015; Guidetti and Danovaro 2018).