Ocean acidification to hit Puget Sound harder, study says – The Seattle Times

Report on Accelerated Ocean Acidification in Puget Sound and its Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Executive Summary

A recent study by the University of Washington reveals that Puget Sound’s waters are acidifying at a faster rate than the global average, posing a significant and imminent threat to marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them. This report analyzes these findings through the lens of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting the urgent need for action on climate change (SDG 13) to protect marine biodiversity (SDG 14) and ensure sustainable economic and community well-being (SDG 8, SDG 12).

2.0 Background of the Study

The research, published in Nature Communications, utilized a novel approach combining modern chemical analysis with historical data from coral samples, some dating back to 1888. This allowed scientists to track changes in ocean chemistry since the Industrial Revolution, confirming that local environmental conditions in the Salish Sea are exacerbating the global problem of ocean acidification driven by anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions.

3.0 Key Scientific Findings

• Accelerated Acidification: The Salish Sea and the broader Pacific Coast are experiencing a more rapid increase in acidity compared to global atmospheric CO2 level increases.
• Compounding Factors: Naturally occurring characteristics of the region, including the upwelling of deep, carbon-rich water and freshwater input from rivers, intensify the effects of global ocean acidification.
• Historical Precedent: Analysis of historical coral samples collected by the USS Albatross confirms that this accelerated trend has been occurring for over a century.
• Projected Impacts: If current emission trends continue, the region’s marine wildlife and fisheries will face catastrophic conditions decades earlier than previously projected.

4.0 Analysis of Impacts on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The study’s findings have profound implications for the achievement of several key SDGs.

1. SDG 14: Life Below Water

   • Target 14.3 (Minimize Ocean Acidification): The report provides critical regional evidence of the failure to meet this target, demonstrating that local ecosystems are disproportionately affected. The accelerated pH decline in Puget Sound directly undermines efforts to address the impacts of ocean acidification.
   • Target 14.2 (Protect and Restore Ecosystems): The increasing corrosiveness of the water threatens the foundational species of the marine food web, including plankton and shellfish (oysters, mussels, crabs), which struggle to form shells. This jeopardizes the health and resilience of the entire marine ecosystem.
   • Target 14.4 (Sustainable Fishing): The degradation of marine habitats and the direct harm to fish stocks and shellfish populations pose a severe threat to the sustainability of local fisheries, impacting both commercial and recreational activities.

2. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.1 (Strengthen Resilience to Climate-Related Hazards): The study underscores the vulnerability of coastal regions to the chemical impacts of climate change. It serves as a stark warning that ocean acidification is a direct and devastating consequence of failing to curb global greenhouse gas emissions.
   • The findings reinforce the scientific consensus on the necessity of aggressive transitions away from fossil fuels to mitigate the worst consequences of climate change, including irreversible damage to marine environments.

3. SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) & SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production)

   • The health of Puget Sound’s marine ecosystems is intrinsically linked to the regional economy. The potential collapse of fisheries and aquaculture industries threatens livelihoods and economic stability.
   • The cultural, commercial, and recreational ties of the local population to the marine environment are at risk, impacting community well-being and sustainable tourism.

5.0 Conclusion and Recommendations

The accelerated acidification of Puget Sound is a critical environmental crisis that directly impedes progress toward achieving SDGs 13 and 14. The scientific evidence confirms that local vulnerabilities are compounding a global problem, necessitating immediate and decisive action.

To mitigate these impacts and align with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the following is imperative:

• Aggressive Emissions Reduction: Prioritize and accelerate the transition to renewable energy sources to significantly cut carbon dioxide emissions, addressing the root cause of ocean acidification in line with SDG 13.
• Enhanced Monitoring and Research: Continue to invest in scientific research to monitor changes in ocean chemistry and understand ecosystem responses, supporting adaptive management strategies for SDG 14.
• Policy Integration: Integrate the goals of SDG 13 and SDG 14 into all local, national, and international economic and environmental policies to ensure a sustainable future for marine ecosystems and the communities they support.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

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

1. SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • The article’s primary focus is on the detrimental effects of ocean acidification on marine ecosystems, particularly in Puget Sound. It explicitly mentions threats to “marine wildlife and fisheries,” “coral reefs,” “oysters, mussels and crabs,” and “plankton,” which are all central to the concerns of SDG 14.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The article identifies the root cause of ocean acidification as climate change, driven by the absorption of “increasing amounts of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas produced as we burn fossil fuels.” It directly links the issue to global warming targets, such as the 1.5 degrees Celsius limit, and calls for reducing emissions, which is the core objective of SDG 13.
3. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The article highlights a collaborative scientific effort. The study was conducted by a team from the University of Washington that utilized historical coral samples from the “Smithsonian Museum, alongside samples from other labs and museums across the country and in Canada.” This cross-institutional and international cooperation to advance scientific knowledge aligns with the principles of SDG 17.
4. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • The problem described in the article stems from human activity, specifically the burning of fossil fuels since the Industrial Revolution. This points to unsustainable patterns of production and consumption that have led to increased CO2 emissions, connecting the issue to the goals of SDG 12.

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

1. Under 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 about the problem of ocean acidification, its accelerated rate in Puget Sound, and the scientific study conducted to understand and warn about its impacts.
   • Target 14.2: “By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts…” The article warns that Puget Sound’s waters “will become an increasingly hostile environment to its native species” and that “marine wildlife and fisheries will likely suffer greatly,” which directly relates to the need to protect these ecosystems from adverse impacts.
   • Target 14.a: “Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology…” The article describes a “novel study” by University of Washington researchers that used innovative methods (analyzing historical coral samples) to increase scientific understanding of long-term ocean acidification trends.
2. Under SDG 13 (Climate Action):
   • Target 13.3: “Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.” The article, published in the “Climate Lab” section of a newspaper, serves to educate the public about the severe and localized impacts of climate change, thereby raising awareness.
   • Target 13.2: “Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.” The article concludes with a call to action: “we have the power to cut [emissions] further in the future by transitioning away from fossil fuels even more aggressively.” This implies the need for policy and strategic planning to mitigate climate change.
3. Under SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals):
   • Target 17.6: “Enhance North-South, South-South and triangular regional and international cooperation on and access to science, technology and innovation…” The research described is a clear example of scientific cooperation, with a university team collaborating with national museums and international labs (“across the country and in Canada”) to access data and samples.

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

1. Indicator 14.3.1: Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations.
   • This is the central indicator discussed throughout the article. It is explicitly referenced with phrases like “pushing our ocean chemistry lower and lower on the pH scale” and the statement that “the world’s oceans are about 30% more acidic than they were 200 years ago.” The scientific study itself is a method of measuring historical changes in marine acidity.
2. Indicator 13.2.2: Total greenhouse gas emissions per year.
   • This indicator is strongly implied as the driver of the problem. The article states that ocean chemistry becomes more corrosive as “oceans absorb increasing amounts of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas produced as we burn fossil fuels.” It also notes that “The ocean absorbs about a quarter of the emissions humans generate,” directly linking the amount of emissions to the severity of ocean acidification. The call to “cut them further” refers to reducing these emissions.
3. Global Temperature Increase Limit.
   • While not a formal SDG indicator by number, the article explicitly mentions a key global climate progress metric: the failure to “limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.” This is a critical indicator for SDG 13, as exceeding this threshold signals devastating consequences, including the ocean acidification described.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: seattletimes.com