An Ospar report shows that CO2 capture and storage (CCS) in geological structures under the seabed is technically feasible, using existing and tried technology. The North-East Atlantic could take most of the EU CO2 emissions from major point sources for several centuries. Retention of CO2 for several thousands of years could be achieved with well selected, designed and managed sites. According to the report evaluation of proposed sites is needed to take account of the risk to the marine environment as well as the benefits in mitigating climate change and acidification of the oceans.

Ocean acidification

A second report confirms that high levels of CO2 in the atmosphere are changing ocean carbon chemistry at least 100 times faster than at any time in the last 100,000 years. Over the past 200 years, the pH of seawater has dropped from 8.2 to 8.1. Models forecast that it will drop to 7.8 by 2100. Or it may even drop to 7.5 if we do nothing about it. That would be lower than anything experienced in the last ten to twenty million years.

This will affect marine species such as corals, crustaceans (lobsters, crabs) and molluscs (mussels, oysters). In general, higher levels of carbon dioxide in seawater depress the physiological performance of sea creatures.