Ocean acidification (OA) is a global problem with profoundly negative environmental, social and economic consequences. From a governance perspective, there is a need to ensure a coordinated effort to directly address it. This study reviews 90 legislative documents from 17 countries from the European Economic Area (EEA) and the UK that primarily border the sea. The primary finding from this study is that the European national policies and legislation addressing OA is at best uncoordinated. Although OA is acknowledged at the higher levels of governance, its status as an environmental challenge is greatly diluted at the European Union Member State level. As a notable exception within the EEA, Norway seems to have a proactive approach towards legislative frameworks and research aimed towards further understanding OA. On the other hand, there was a complete lack of, or inadequate reporting in the Marine Strategy Framework Directive by the majority of the EU Member States, with the exception of Italy and the Netherlands. We argue that the problems associated with OA and the solutions needed to address it are unique and cannot be bundled together with traditional climate change responses and measures. Therefore, European OA-related policy and legislation must reflect this and tailor their actions to mitigate OA to safeguard marine ecosystems and societies. A stronger and more coordinated approach is needed to build environmental, economic and social resilience of the observed and anticipated changes to the coastal marine systems.
Galdies C., Bellerby R., Canu D., Chen W., Garcia-Luque E., Gašparović B., Godrijan J., Lawlor P.J., Maes F., Malej A., Panagiotaras D., Romera B.M., Reymond C., Rochette J., Solidoro C., Stojanov R., Tiller R., Torres de Noronha I., Uścinowicz G., Natașa Vaidianu, Walsh C. and Guerra R. (2020) European policies and legislation targeting ocean acidification in european waters - Current state. Marine Policy 118: 103947. 10.1016/j.marpol.2020.103947
@article{Galdies2020,
Title = {European policies and legislation targeting ocean acidification in european waters - Current state},
Author = {Galdies, Charles and Bellerby, Richard and Canu, Donata and Chen, Wenting and Garcia-Luque, Enrique and Gašparović, Blaženka and Godrijan, Jelena and Lawlor, Paul J. and Maes, Frank and Malej, Alenka and Panagiotaras, Dionisios and Romera, Beatriz Martinez and Reymond, Claire and Rochette, Julien and Solidoro, Cosimo and Stojanov, Robert and Tiller, Rachel and Torres de Noronha, Isabel and Uścinowicz, Grzegorz and Natașa Vaidianu and Walsh, Cormac and Guerra, Roberta},
Editor = {},
Journal = {Marine Policy},
Year = {2020},
Pages = {103947},
Volume = {118},
Doi = {10.1016/j.marpol.2020.103947},
Abstract = {Ocean acidification (OA) is a global problem with profoundly negative environmental, social and economic consequences. From a governance perspective, there is a need to ensure a coordinated effort to directly address it. This study reviews 90 legislative documents from 17 countries from the European Economic Area (EEA) and the UK that primarily border the sea. The primary finding from this study is that the European national policies and legislation addressing OA is at best uncoordinated. Although OA is acknowledged at the higher levels of governance, its status as an environmental challenge is greatly diluted at the European Union Member State level. As a notable exception within the EEA, Norway seems to have a proactive approach towards legislative frameworks and research aimed towards further understanding OA. On the other hand, there was a complete lack of, or inadequate reporting in the Marine Strategy Framework Directive by the majority of the EU Member States, with the exception of Italy and the Netherlands. We argue that the problems associated with OA and the solutions needed to address it are unique and cannot be bundled together with traditional climate change responses and measures. Therefore, European OA-related policy and legislation must reflect this and tailor their actions to mitigate OA to safeguard marine ecosystems and societies. A stronger and more coordinated approach is needed to build environmental, economic and social resilience of the observed and anticipated changes to the coastal marine systems.},
}
TY - JOUR
AU - Galdies, Charles
AU - Bellerby, Richard
AU - Canu, Donata
AU - Chen, Wenting
AU - Garcia-Luque, Enrique
AU - Gašparović, Blaženka
AU - Godrijan, Jelena
AU - Lawlor, Paul J.
AU - Maes, Frank
AU - Malej, Alenka
AU - Panagiotaras, Dionisios
AU - Romera, Beatriz Martinez
AU - Reymond, Claire
AU - Rochette, Julien
AU - Solidoro, Cosimo
AU - Stojanov, Robert
AU - Tiller, Rachel
AU - Torres de Noronha, Isabel
AU - Uścinowicz, Grzegorz
AU - Natașa Vaidianu
AU - Walsh, Cormac
AU - Guerra, Roberta
TI - European policies and legislation targeting ocean acidification in european waters - Current state
T2 - Marine Policy
PY - 2020
SP - 103947
VL - 118
DO - 10.1016/j.marpol.2020.103947
AB - Ocean acidification (OA) is a global problem with profoundly negative environmental, social and economic consequences. From a governance perspective, there is a need to ensure a coordinated effort to directly address it. This study reviews 90 legislative documents from 17 countries from the European Economic Area (EEA) and the UK that primarily border the sea. The primary finding from this study is that the European national policies and legislation addressing OA is at best uncoordinated. Although OA is acknowledged at the higher levels of governance, its status as an environmental challenge is greatly diluted at the European Union Member State level. As a notable exception within the EEA, Norway seems to have a proactive approach towards legislative frameworks and research aimed towards further understanding OA. On the other hand, there was a complete lack of, or inadequate reporting in the Marine Strategy Framework Directive by the majority of the EU Member States, with the exception of Italy and the Netherlands. We argue that the problems associated with OA and the solutions needed to address it are unique and cannot be bundled together with traditional climate change responses and measures. Therefore, European OA-related policy and legislation must reflect this and tailor their actions to mitigate OA to safeguard marine ecosystems and societies. A stronger and more coordinated approach is needed to build environmental, economic and social resilience of the observed and anticipated changes to the coastal marine systems.
ER -
