Using the Clean Water Act to Tackle Ocean Acidification: When Carbon Dioxide Pollutes the Oceans

• Main Author: Sakashita, Miyoko
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: UW Law Digital Commons 2016
• Subjects: Environmental Law; Water Law; Ocean acidification
• Online Access: https://digitalcommons.law.uw.edu/wjelp/vol6/iss2/12; https://digitalcommons.law.uw.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1064&context=wjelp

Carbon dioxide is an invisible pollutant that threatens water quality and entire marine ecosystems. The oceans absorb carbon pollution from the atmosphere, which reacts with seawater causing it to become more acidic. Ocean acidification impairs the growth, survival and reproduction of marine animals, and if unabated will massively disrupt entire ecosystems. One of the most powerful tools that we have to combat ocean acidification is the Clean Water Act—a law that has successfully solved difficult water pollution problems for decades. This article will discuss how the Clean Water Act can be leveraged to address ocean acidification and to protect our oceans.