New predictions suggest the ocean's acidity will increase by 170 percent by the end of the century.
The rapid ocean acidification would cause extreme economic loss to society, especially for those living in third-world countries, an International Council for Science news release reported.
The acidification would also dramatically affect marine ecosystems and marine species biodiversity. There would be a drastic decline in shellfish and the coral reefs would grossly degrade.
"What we can now say with high levels of confidence about ocean acidification sends a clear message. Globally we have to be prepared for significant economic and ecosystem service losses. But we also know that reducing the rate of carbon dioxide emissions will slow acidification. That has to be the major message for the COP19 meeting," Ulf Riebesell of GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel said.
If manmade emissions are not reduced both cold water and tropical reefs will be in trouble. If out emission reductions meet the two-degree target by the year 2100 only half of all surface waters inhabited by tropical reefs will be favorable for their survival.
"Emissions reductions may protect some reefs and marine organisms but we know that the ocean is subject to many other stresses such as warming, deoxygenation, pollution and overfishing. Warming and deoxygenation are also caused by rising carbon dioxide emissions, underlining the importance of reducing fossil fuel emissions. Reducing other stressors such as pollution and overfishing, and the introduction of large scale marine protected areas, may help build some resilience to ocean acidification," Author Wendy Broadgate, Deputy Director at the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme, said.
The council has "very high confidence" that the acidification is a direct result of human carbon dioxide emissions. When the ocean absorbs carbon it becomes more acidic.
The council also has "high confidence" the acidification will cause extensive coral reef degradation, and "medium confidence" of the Socio-economic impacts this could cause.
