Ocean acidification - the excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that is turning the oceans increasingly acid - is a slow but accelerating impact with consequences that will greatly overshadow all the oil spills put together. The warming trend that is CO2-related will overshadow all the oil spills that have ever occurred put together.
Sylvia EarleSince the middle of the 20th century, more has been learnt about the ocean than during all preceding human history; at the same time, more has been lost.
Sylvia EarleIf somebody dumps something noxious in my back yard, the dumper is the last one I would call on to repair the damage.
Sylvia EarleIt's a fact of life that there will be oil spills, as long as oil is moved from place to place, but we must have provisions to deal with them, and a capability that is commensurate with the size of the oil shipments.
Sylvia Earle