Scientists have warned that marine life will be irreversibly changed unless CO2 emissions are drastically cut.

Writing in Science, experts say the oceans are heating, losing oxygen and becoming more acidic because of CO2.

They warn that the 2C maximum temperature rise for climate change agreed by governments will not prevent dramatic impacts on ocean systems.

And they say the range of options is dwindling as the cost of those options is skyrocketing.

Twenty-two world-leading marine scientists have collaborated in the synthesis report in a special section of Science journal. They say the oceans are at parlous risk from the combination of threats related to CO2.

They believe politicians trying to solve climate change have paid far too little attention to the impacts of climate change on the oceans.

It is clear, they say, that CO2 from burning fossil fuels is changing the chemistry of the seas faster than at any time since a cataclysmic natural event known as the Great Dying 250 million years ago.

They warn that the ocean has absorbed nearly 30% of the carbon dioxide we have produced since 1750 and, as CO2 is a mildly acidic gas, it is making seawater more acidic.

It has also buffered climate change by absorbing over 90% of the additional heat created by industrial society since 1970. The extra heat makes it harder for the ocean to hold oxygen.

科学家们警告说，除非二氧化碳排放量能大大减少，否则海洋生命是无法逆转的。

《科学》期刊上专家表示，由于二氧化碳的缘故，海洋温度正在上升，含氧量正在下降且酸性愈来愈强。

他们告诫说，各国政府一致认为气候变化导致了气温上升不过2摄氏度，但这2摄氏度将会对海洋生态系统造成巨大的影响。

他们还说，可选择的范围正在缩小，而这些选择的成本正急速上升。

22个世界一流的海洋专家在《科学》期刊的特别栏目上共同发表了一篇综合报告。他们表示，海洋正面临着二氧化碳带来的剧太威胁。

他们认为，那些致力于应对气候变化的政客过于忽视气候变化对海洋的影响。

他们说，很明显，在2亿5千万年前那次称之为“大毁灭”的自然大灾难发生后，燃烧化石燃料产生的二氧化碳从未像现在这般以如此快的速度改变着海洋的化学成分。

他们警告说，自从1750年以后， 我们产生的二氧化碳中有30% 已经溶入海洋。并且由于二氧化碳是微酸性气体，海水正变得越来越酸。

而在1970年后工业社会产生的额外热量中，有超过90%已经被海洋吸收，从而减缓了气候变化。这额外热量使得海洋更难以蕴存氧。