Committee: United Nations Environmental Programme

Country: United States of America

Topic: Ocean Acidification

Position Paper

Ocean acidification is currently a major environmental concern. It changes the oceans’

PH balance, which makes the ocean level acidic. This significantly affects our marine
ecosystems, harming not only fish, but also coral reef populations. Acidification also puts
aquacultures in harm's way because acidity affects growth patterns and life spans of fish.
Economically this is disastrous. In the USA alone, the fishing industry in 2010 accounted for 2.8
million jobs and $258 billion in GDP. In recent years the PH levels have gone up faster than
ever recorded. Unquestionably, the life expectancy of our marine ecosystems continue to
dwindle toward unsustainability.

More than 160 million people live in coastal areas in the US, and this number is only
expected to grow. In 2010, 41 percent of our nation's GDP was generated in coastal regions,
including the Great Lakes. America’s bodies of water are essential for energy, food, recreational
activities, culture, and even national security. They provide us with quality of life for present, and
future generations. In terms of the economy, the fishing industry is on a decline because of
ocean acidification. It has deeply affected aquacultures, for example harming the USA’s imports
of shellfish. The acidity affects the size of the shellfish and prevents many of the species from
forming a shell for protection. All of these defects hurt the productivity of shellfish farmers in the
area. If ocean acidification is to rise at the current rate, the US will face a major economic
decline in the marine industry..

The first step for the United Nations Environmental Programme is to establish a coalition
for research. We must gather scientists from all over the world to work together on researching
how ocean acidification affects marine life. Research facilities should be constructed to
accommodate the researchers and their needs. This outline requires a national cooperation.
Partnerships with other countries are vital for making progress in research. Grants need to be
made available in order to fund the research. The US delegation hopes that the research will
inspire countries worldwide to take action and help stop acidification from destroying the very
marine life we take for granted.