Report on Ocean Acidification in Hawaiian Waters and Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction and Context

A recent study published in Advancing Earth and Space Sciences, titled ‘Patterns of Ocean Acidification Emergence in the Hawaiian Islands Using Dynamically Downscaled Projections’, provides critical data on the future of Hawaiian marine ecosystems. The research directly addresses the urgent need for SDG 13 (Climate Action) by modeling the effects of carbon emissions on ocean chemistry. Its findings have profound implications for the conservation targets outlined in SDG 14 (Life Below Water), particularly concerning the preservation of coral reefs and marine biodiversity.

Key Findings on Projected Ocean Acidification

The research team conducted the first ocean acidification projection specifically for Hawaiian waters, yielding several significant conclusions:

• Emission Scenario Dependency: The extent and timing of ocean chemistry changes are directly correlated with the volume of atmospheric carbon. High-emission scenarios project dramatic chemical shifts, posing severe challenges to coral adaptation. Low-emission scenarios, while still resulting in inevitable changes, present less extreme and more gradual shifts.
• Unprecedented Environmental Conditions: Projections indicate that future levels of ocean acidification will significantly exceed the natural variations historically experienced by local ecosystems. Study co-author Tobias Freidrich noted the unexpected severity of this deviation from historical norms.
• Geographic Variation in Impact: The study calculated that different regions of the Hawaiian Islands will experience acidification differently. Windward coastlines are projected to face conditions most dramatically different from their recent history, necessitating localized management strategies.

Implications for SDG 14: Life Below Water

The study’s results highlight critical challenges and opportunities for achieving the targets of SDG 14 in the region.

1. Threats to Coral Reef Viability: The projected changes in ocean chemistry threaten the fundamental ability of corals to survive and adapt. The extremity of these conditions is contingent on global adherence to climate scenarios, underscoring the link between global climate action and local marine health.
2. Potential for Coral Acclimatisation: Despite the severe projections, previous research offers evidence of coral acclimatisation to elevated acidity. This suggests that if changes are managed and occur gradually, as in low-emission scenarios, some level of ecosystem resilience may be possible.
3. Informing Marine Conservation Strategy: This research serves as a foundational step in understanding the total impact on corals and other marine organisms. It provides a basis for developing targeted conservation efforts that account for regional variations in stress around the islands.

Future Research and Strategic Directions

The research team has outlined a clear path for continued investigation to support evidence-based policy in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.

• Comprehensive Stressor Analysis: Future work will examine the combined effects of multiple stressors, including ocean acidification and heat stress, on marine life.
• Identification of Climate Refugia: A key objective is to locate potential refugia—areas where corals may be more sheltered from environmental stress—to prioritize for conservation.
• Socio-Economic Impact Assessment: The team will investigate the projected changes to Hawai’i’s fisheries, directly linking environmental health under SDG 14 to the economic well-being and food security of local communities, a core component of SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article primarily addresses issues related to two Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 14: Life Below Water: This is the most direct connection, as the article focuses on the health of marine ecosystems, specifically coral reefs in Hawaii, and the threat they face from ocean acidification. The research discussed aims to understand and project the impact on “corals and other marine organisms.”
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The article explicitly identifies the root cause of ocean acidification as “the amount of carbon added to the atmosphere.” It discusses different outcomes based on “high-emission” versus “low-emissions scenarios,” directly linking the fate of the marine environment to global climate action.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s discussion, the following specific targets can be identified:

1. SDG 14: Life Below Water

   • Target 14.3: Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels. The entire article is centered on a scientific study (“The paper – titled ‘Patterns of Ocean Acidification Emergence in the Hawaiian Islands…’”) that investigates the specific impacts of ocean acidification. This research represents the “enhanced scientific cooperation” needed to understand and address the problem.
   • Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans. The article discusses the need to protect coral reefs and mentions that some species show “signs of adaptability.” The research team’s plan to investigate “locations of possible refugia (areas where corals may be more sheltered from stress)” is a direct action toward managing and protecting these ecosystems by identifying areas that can strengthen their resilience.

2. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. Ocean acidification is a climate-related hazard. The research into how corals might “acclimatise to those conditions, thereby enhancing the coral’s adaptability” is a study of the ecosystem’s resilience and adaptive capacity in the face of this hazard.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions or implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress:

1. For Target 14.3 (Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification):

   • Indicator (Implied): Measurement of ocean chemistry/acidity. The article directly refers to measuring and projecting changes in “ocean chemistry” and “ocean acidification.” The study calculates “the difference between projected ocean acidification and acidification that corals in a given location have experienced in recent history.” This aligns with the official SDG indicator 14.3.1 (Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations).

2. For Target 14.2 (Sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems):

   • Indicator (Implied): Identification and protection of climate refugia. The article states that the research team will continue to investigate “locations of possible refugia (areas where corals may be more sheltered from stress).” The number and extent of such identified and subsequently protected areas would serve as a practical indicator of progress in managing and protecting marine ecosystems.

3. For Target 13.1 (Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity):

   • Indicator (Mentioned): Carbon emission levels. The article explicitly frames the severity of the problem around different climate scenarios: “the amount of carbon added to the atmosphere” and the difference between a “high-emission scenario” and “low-emissions scenarios.” Tracking global carbon emissions is a direct indicator of whether the world is moving toward the “best case” scenario where the impact on corals “could be manageable.”

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: oceanographicmagazine.com