Scientists find coastal seas acidifying shockingly fast

[Perpetual Student]

Scientists find coastal seas acidifying shockingly fast

New findings show that some coastal regions will become far more acidic than scientists once thought, with upwelling systems pulling deep, CO2-rich waters to the surface and greatly intensifying acidification. Historic coral chemistry and advanced modeling reveal that these regions are...

www.sciencedaily.com

"New findings show that some coastal regions will become far more acidic than scientists once thought, with upwelling systems pulling deep, CO2-rich waters to the surface and greatly intensifying acidification. Historic coral chemistry and advanced modeling reveal that these regions are acidifying much faster than expected from atmospheric CO2 alone, raising serious concerns for fisheries, marine ecosystems, and coastal economies."

The emissions of CO2 into our atmosphere is not only about rising sea levels and hungry polar bears. It threatens also directly the food production and income of millions of people living near and from the sea.
The acidification of the oceans by the CO2 is a different consequence of the release of this gas, aside from global warming.

 

[Oompa Loompa]

So who is going to be the one to tell China and India to stop polluting the Earth?

 

[Perpetual Student]

So who is going to be the one to tell China and India to stop polluting the Earth?

The finger pointing at others, so that the own responsibility can be avoided.

Let me show a few graphs. Because I love fact based discussions.

China as a country is indeed the biggest emitter of CO2 currently. India, which you single out too, emits currently 2.6 billion ton of CO2, while the USA is emitting 5.67 billion ton. Annually. So the USA emits double the amount of CO2 and this even despite the fact that there are more Indians than Americans.

If we look at the emissions per capita, then the graph becomes even more staggering.

An American citizen emits 14 ton CO2 per year, a Chinese 8 ton, an Indian 2.2 ton per year. Every American pollutes as much as 7 Indians.

source: CO₂ and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

China invests in renewables, massively. According to the IAE:

According to the IEA:

“Chinese investments in energy remained extremely strong, accounting for one-third of clean energy investments worldwide and an important share of China’s overall GDP growth. China has announced dual carbon goals – to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060 – and has shown remarkable progress in adding renewable capacity. In 2023, China commissioned as much solar PV as the entire world did in 2022 while its wind additions also grew by 66% year-on-year. Over the past five years, China also added 11 GW of nuclear power, by far the largest of any country in the world.”

https://www.iea.org/reports/world-energy-investment-2024/china