I am sitting on a rock, at water’s edge, watching the wigeons nibbling on unseen shore nutrients. Farther out, bufflehead and goldeneye ducks are diving for small fish. Beyond, in the bay, a dozen freighters and a lone tanker lie at anchor. For these birds, and for all life dependent on a healthy sea, this is a big problem. Most of these freighters are bulk carriers and most of their cargo will be coal – the world’s dirtiest, most abundant fossil fuel, and largest contributor to the climate crisis. Every ton of thermal coal burned to produce electricity releases about two tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. 30% of this is absorbed into the oceans.  The oceans of the world are already 30% more acidic than before the industrial era began and they are changing much more rapidly than sea animals can adapt. In my area of the world, oyster larvae are dying due to acidification, and salmon are at risk. Vancouver, B.C. is the largest exporter of coal in North America.