We Can Lead : Washington State\u27s Efforts to Address Ocean Acidification

The world’s oceans have become approximately thirty percent more acidic since the Industrial Revolution and are currently acidifying at a rate ten times faster than anything the earth has experienced over the last fifty million years. Washington State is undertaking a groundbreaking effort to address ocean acidification, a global issue that has serious implications for the world’s oceans, marine ecosystems, and the individuals and communities that depend upon the services that they provide. These localized actions, in isolation, will be insufficient to effectively combat and adapt to the acidification of marine waters. While acknowledging this generally accepted premise, Washington has nonetheless determined to become a leader in responding to ocean acidification. This article discusses several reasons why this issue is being addressed at the state level and by Washington in particular, and examines the successes and challenges of, and lessons that can be learned from, Washington’s response to ocean acidification