25 Nov Latin American Scientists Warn Political Leaders at COP30: Ocean Acidification Threatens Food Security and Coastal Economies in the Region

A document backed by the Millennium Institute SECOS, the CEAZA Science Center, and other institutions of the Ocean Acidification Alliance urges governments across Latin America and the Caribbean to adopt science-based policies, strengthen monitoring, and mobilize financing to confront one of the most silent yet severe threats of climate change.

Ocean acidification—a silent process driven by the gradual increase of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the atmosphere and its absorption by the ocean—alters seawater chemistry and threatens ocean health and the livelihoods of millions across Latin America and the Caribbean. In response, a group of scientists and regional research centers will deliver a key report today, Tuesday, November 18, during COP30 in Brazil, seeking to translate scientific evidence into political action.

The document, titled “Taking Action on Ocean Acidification in Latin America & the Caribbean: Science to Policy Leadership,” will be presented at the side event “Ocean Acidification in Latin America and the Caribbean: Science, Policy and Financing Solutions” at the Cuba Pavilion. The report—supported by Chilean institutions including the Millennium Institute SECOS, the Coastal Ecosystems and Global Environmental Change Laboratory (ECCALab) at the University of Concepción, the Center for Advanced Studies in Arid Zones (CEAZA), and the Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP)—offers a concrete roadmap for governments to integrate ocean acidification into their ocean and climate policies, aligning monitoring, financing, and solution implementation.

“International scientific collaboration among Latin American countries helps level capacities, standardize protocols, and foster the development of human capital in the region,” highlights Víctor Aguilera, CEAZA researcher and one of the document’s signatories. He adds, “This work offers decision-makers concrete tools and strategies to meet commitments and implement sustainability mechanisms in socio-ecological coastal systems.”

The Ocean’s Chemical Crisis and Its Economic Impact

Ocean acidification occurs when the ocean absorbs CO₂ from fossil fuel combustion, altering its natural chemistry. This change lowers seawater pH and carbonate availability, increases dissolved CO₂, and affects species that rely on calcium carbonate to form shells or skeletons—such as mollusks, crustaceans, and corals—essential for biodiversity and coastal economies.

This global process is compounded by local chemical stressors such as nutrient pollution from agriculture and wastewater, which intensify a parallel phenomenon known as “coastal acidification,” distinguished from the global process. According to the report, Latin America—home to over 30,000 miles of coastline and 17.7 million tons of fisheries and aquaculture production in 2022 (8% of the global total)—faces a challenge that could undermine a key economic foundation for food security and coastal employment.

“In Chile, we still lack long-term time series to confirm trends, but existing observations already show concerning signals,” warns Cristian Vargas, researcher at the Millennium Institute SECOS, academic, and director of ECCALab at the University of Concepción’s Faculty of Environmental Sciences. “In northern Patagonia, an oceanographic buoy has recorded pH drops of several tenths in just six years—a significant change in such a short period. If confirmed, this would directly affect aquaculture by impairing the ability of mollusks and crustaceans to form shells and structures, increasing their vulnerability in early life stages,” Vargas notes.

Three Pillars for Action: Monitoring, Policy, and Financing

The document moves from scientific warning to concrete action, based on three central pillars. The first is strengthening regional monitoring. “Technological and infrastructure gaps have both cost and time components,” explains Víctor Aguilera. “Detecting acidification requires long-term time series spanning years. So far, monitoring efforts in Latin America have relied on scientific projects lasting three to five years. Direct participation from states is essential.”

The second pillar is a set of specific policy recommendations detailing how to align ocean management strategies—from Sustainable Ocean Plans to Marine Protected Areas—with the response to acidification. The third pillar explores innovative financial mechanisms to support the implementation of solutions and facilitate adaptation in coastal communities.

A Call for Collaborative Governance

The document urges governments, finance ministries, NGOs, and financial partners to mobilize on multiple fronts. Key actions include reducing carbon emissions and coastal pollution and investing in long-term monitoring programs to provide early warnings for fishing and aquaculture communities.

“Science can and should act as a bridge between technical knowledge and local action,” says Cristian Vargas. “Engaging coastal communities in monitoring and communicating results builds trust and promotes shared responsibility. When scientific information is translated into practical tools, such as early-warning systems, communities can actively participate in decision-making. This approach makes science a driver of social and environmental transformation,” Vargas concludes.

The report also stresses the need to integrate ocean acidification as a cross-cutting variable in all climate and biodiversity policies, protect blue carbon ecosystems—such as mangroves and seagrass meadows—that act as natural buffers, and promote regional cooperation to build collective adaptive capacity.

The delivery of this document at COP30 aims to position ocean acidification as an unavoidable priority in the regional climate agenda, transforming scientific leadership into concrete political action to safeguard the future of the ocean and the millions who depend on it.