OA Executive Order

Gov. Chris Gregoire has signed an executive order directing state officials to work on the problem of ocean acidification.

Here is the Washington State Department of Ecology's web page on Ocean Acidification — From Knowledge to Action: Washington’s Strategic Response.

The full report identifies 42 actions, including 18 “Key Early Actions,” that will increase Washington’s capacity to understand, reduce, remediate, and where possible adapt to the consequences of ocean acidification. Actions include the following broad categories of activity...

1. Reduce carbon dioxide emissions, the most significant driver of ocean acidification. Emissions of carbon dioxide must be significantly reduced or the actions recommended here will be far less effective in addressing the risk of ocean acidification.

2. Reduce local land-based contributions to ocean acidification. Reducing inputs of nutrients and organic carbon from local sources will decrease acidity in marine waters impacted by these local sources, thereby decreasing the effects of ocean acidification on local marine species in those areas.

3. Increase our ability to adapt to and remediate the impacts of ocean acidification. We must implement a wide range of measures to adapt to and remediate the impacts of ocean acidification in order to limit future losses of shellfish production, jobs, local businesses, and natural resources.

4. Invest in Washington’s ability to monitor ocean acidification and investigate its effects. Investing in ocean acidification research and monitoring will provide the necessary scientific support for developing, implementing, and evaluating effective responses to ocean acidification.

5. Inform, educate, and engage stakeholders, decision makers, and the public in addressing ocean acidification. Public engagement and dialogue on ocean acidification and how to address it are essential to building support for effective implementation of the recommended actions.

6. Maintain a sustainable and coordinated focus on ocean acidification. Addressing the impacts of changing ocean chemistry on marine ecosystems and coastal communities requires sustained leadership and support from the Governor and other state officials, and a coordinating mechanism to facilitate the implementation of the Panel’s recommendations.