Talk Radio News Service: News, Politics, Media

By Justine Rellosa
Talk Radio News Service

On the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, Actress Sigourney Weaver said without climate legislation, the U.S. risks allowing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to have monumental negative impacts on ocean acidification.

Weaver and others testified Thursday before a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation subcommittee.

“The oceans are 30 percent more acidic than they were during pre-industrial times and if we continue burning fossil fuels as we are now, we will double the ocean’s acidity by the end of the century,” said Weaver.

According to Dr. James Barry, Senior Scientist at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), several studies and workshops have concluded that during the past decade there has been a massive influx of CO2 emissions into our oceans. Such pollution, he said, poses a threat to the livelihood of the ecosystem.

“[CO2 emissions] could have very significant effects on marine ecosystems,” said Barry. “Eventually, over 85 percent of all emissions will reside in the ocean and this CO2 will mix throughout the depths of the ocean.”

Weaver challenged lawmakers to put aside their differences and enact climate and energy legislation that will push America towards a clean energy economy.

“Lawmakers must help ocean ecosystems adapt to the changes brought about by a warming climate and acidifying oceans. To make the oceans more resilient to these changes, we need to do a better job of keeping the oceans healthy.”