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20 | POLLUTION AND HEALTH

ACTION PLAN
What if the solutions

came from the ocean?

The latest flagship project by AMAO has looked at ocean-based solutions

to combat the triple threat faced by the planet’s primary ecosystem.

The Monegasque Association for Ocean Acidification SUPPORTED BY SCIENCE
(AMAO)’s scoping workshop which took place during
Monaco Ocean Week was an opportunity to look Reliant on scientific excellence, the Ocean Solutions
back at the insight offered by the Ocean Solutions Initiative was also able to contribute to IPCC reports
Initiative which ended in 2020, following four years of via top-level scientific papers (notably in Frontiers in
research. Around 15 international experts were able Marine Science and the prestigious journal Nature).
to review the potential of solutions able to support The exploratory workshop which took place on the
climate action and help combat ocean acidification second day of Monaco Ocean Week helped to outline
and rising sea levels. AMAO’s future priorities to develop knowledge of an
ecosystem confronted with numerous threats, as well
as the search for reliable solutions to limit its effects.
13 SPECIFIC MEASURES

Measures which could play a key role include pro-
tection and restoration of ecosystems capturing and
storing carbon, as well as the development of re-
newable marine energies. However, whilst several of-
fer interesting potential on a global level, there are too THE OTHER CO PROBLEM
many uncertainties or associated risks to recommend 2
large-scale deployment. This includes so-called CO absorption modifies the
2
“geoengineering” measures, which include managing chemical composition and pH of the
solar radiation to limit global warming, e.g. by adding ocean. Often referred to as “the other
foam on the ocean’s surface. Many planned options CO problem”, ocean acidification
2
lack scientific approval. The “solution” lies in com- is up 26% since the start of the
bining global and local measures, some of which are industrial era. At current emission
ready to be deployed on a large scale. AMAO calls for levels, it may increase 150% by 2100.
coordinated international cooperation.