Once again, it is officially Blog Action Day 2009 and this year’s focus is on climate change.
A new U.N. environment report revealed that healthy oceans are one of the keys to combating climate change and preventing the destruction of marine life could help offset between 3 to 7 percent of current fossil fuel emissions. As a result, it also proposed that governments consider a “blue carbon” fund to help protect marine life. This fund would be used to protect and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and could eventually allow the future use of carbon credits, similar to that proposed for tropical forests in U.N. climate negotiations.
- Boston Skyline
It’s no wonder a body of water that dwarfs towering buildings can be so greatly impacted by climate change. And if a recent study revealing that the Arctic will be ice-free in summer within 20 years is correct, who knows what it will engulf as it melts.
When I was little I wanted to be a marine biologist. In second grade, we had to do a report on an animal and present it to the entire grade. Naturally, I chose whales. For some reason I have been fascinated by these great animals ever since and if I had a knack for science at all, I imagine I might be in a very different place right now, having followed the path my second grade imagination created.
Despite my great interest and fascination with the ocean and the life it contains, there are times when I feel helpless knowing that marine life could play such a pivotal role in solving the enormous issue of climate change. But I have realized, the best thing to do is start off small. In a search I found a list of 5 Easy Ways to Protect Marine Life and it stresses the need to reduce your carbon footprint.
When it comes to being more environmentally-friendly, my greatest motivation is thinking about the Pacific Trash Vortex, but I still need to get to a place where it is ingrained in me, where it is natural to go out of my way to recycle and not just throw a plastic bottle in a green container when I happen to see one and then feel good about myself.
Do you have other ways to reduce your carbon footprint every day?
Great post! And beautiful photo of the Boston skyline
We definitely need a blue carbon fund!
I used to want to be a marine biologist too
Great post Susan – I am always shocked when seeing photos of places when they compare now with 10 years ago – I really hope that something can happen somewhere to start changing the word!
Alexandra Cousteau, the granddaughter of Jacques Cousteau, recently spent 100 days examining how climate change is affecting the world’s water systems. Her mission is awesome and the website has a lot of good info for those interested: http://www.alexandracousteau.org/
This is a terrific piece. I love marine life too. Hopefully we can get some of the destruction reversed.
Fantastic picture. Makes me miss home.