Sen. Kerry plans major committee review of ocean health

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-Mass.) is planning to convene a sweeping committee review of the world’s oceans in September.

“It is going to be an analysis of what is happening in the oceans globally in terms of fisheries, development, acidification, pollution, all aspects of the oceans,” he told E2 outside the Capitol Tuesday.

Kerry said he expects the September hearings to span five days, and that it will “inevitably involve” an examination of the effects of climate change, including acidification.

Jane Lubchenco, who heads the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, warned of the damage from ocean acidification, which results from carbon dioxide emissions, during a visit to Australia this week, according to The Associated Press.

Another Senate committee is planning a direct look at climate change.

Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) said Tuesday that her panel will convene a hearing before the end of the year to explore developments in climate science.