The aim of this presentation is to alert the audience of the need to consider the potential socio-economic impacts of ocean acidification under a business as usualemissions scenario and the consequent need to develop adaptation strategies for Australia to to capture opportunities and to moderate or avoid harm arising from this challenge.

The world’s oceans are becoming increasingly acidic largely as a result of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions being absorbed by seawater and this is happening at a rate not previously seen in the Earth’s history. In a business as usual scenario representative concentration pathway 8.5 this will continue to increase rapidly.

The climatic, ecological, chemical and physical responses to ocean acidification are complex, will vary from location to location, from species to species from ecological system to ecological system, and will change through time. Some of these responses have already been detected and cases have been reported where environmental changes were rapid. The action of other stressors resulting from climate change and increasing human population are also increasing the complexity and severity of these responses. Ocean acidification can be been the straw that breaks the camel’s back in some marine ecosystems.

While these changes are complex it is clear that they pose a very real risk to Australians and global citizens as well as to our environment. Choosing not to prepare and adopt an adaptation strategy would leave us unprepared to face this emerging challenge.