# Oceana Responds as Atmospheric CO2 Passes 400 ppm

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2013/05/oceana-co2-400-ppm-ocean-acidification/
- Published: 2013-05-17T20:23:11-04:00
- Author: greenguruguides

Researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography reported today that carbon dioxide
levels in the atmosphere passed 400 parts per million (ppm) at the Mauna Loa Observatory
in Hawaii for the first time in human history. These are the highest atmospheric
CO_(2) levels that have occurred in 800,000 years, and this level exceeds the 350
ppm that scientists consider to be safe for society and the environment.

In response, Oceana released the following statement from Jacqueline Savitz, deputy
vice president for U.S. campaigns:

>  “This is a bad sign for our oceans and our society as a whole. Carbon dioxide
> has a variety of harmful effects, including making our oceans more acidic. Unless
> we can level off at about 350 ppm in the atmosphere, we can expect continued acidification
> of our oceans, along with major impacts on corals, shellfish and other marine 
> animals. Due to rapid CO_(2)absorption, the oceans are now 30 percent more acidic
> than before the Industrial Revolution, and the rate of change in ocean pH, called
> ocean acidification, is unprecedented in our Earth’s history. Ocean acidification
> threatens marine animals like oysters, mussels and clams as well as coral reefs,
> fish and more. Ocean acidification has already caused massive die-offs of oyster
> larvae at the Whisky Creek oyster hatchery in Oregon, shrunk the shells of pteropods
> in the Southern Ocean and caused coral growth to slow on Australia’s [Great Barrier Reef](https://greenlivingguy.com/2019/09/great-barrier-reef-at-risk-of-becoming-dumping-ground/).
> If we continue with our current rate of emissions, we could see the next mass 
> extinction in this century.
> This measurement is a stark reminder that we need to reduce [CO2](https://greenlivingguy.com/2005/12/co2-highest-for-650000-years/)
> emissions dramatically in this decade by transitioning away from fossil fuels.
> That means shifting from fossil fuels to clean energy. The oceans can be part 
> of the solution if we develop offshore wind energy instead of offshore oil and
> gas. The U.S. can act upon this historic CO_(2)milestone by phasing out subsidies
> for Big Oil and other fossil fuel companies, which perpetuate pollution rather
> than taking us into the clean energy future.”

[Source: Oceana](https://oceana.org/press-center/press-releases/oceana-reacts-atmospheric-co2-levels-surpass-400ppm)

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