"BONN, Germany, -- The increasing acidity of the world's oceans due to global warming must not be left off the agenda at the United Nations Copenhagen climate negotiations in December, 70 of the world's science academies warned today.

The oceans are now more acidic now than they have been for 800,000 years, the academies said in a joint statement, and they predicted dire consequences for food production and the livelihoods of millions of people if this challenge is not addressed.

The absorption of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide causes irreversible ocean acidification, which the scientists say will cause 'massive corrosion of coral reefs and dramatic changes in the makeup of ocean biodiversity.'"

Environment News Service had the story June 1, 2009. [2]

See Also:

Academies Urge CO2 Cuts (Greenwire/NY Times) [3]