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To fight climate change, save the whales, some scientists say
In death, whales carry the tons of carbon stored in their massive bodies down to rest on the seafloor, where it can remain for centuries.
Whale excrement fertilizes the ocean, producing large phytoplankton blooms that absorb enormous amounts of carbon dioxide.
Scientists point out that helping whale populations recover from past overharvesting can help reduce greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere.
Science has established the urgency of reducing carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. If humans do not reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45% from 2010 levels in the next nine years and eliminate them completely by 2050, the planet’s temperature will rise to 1.5° Celsius (2.7° Fahrenheit) above that of the pre-industrial period. This would have far-reaching effects on ecosystems and on humankind’s ways of life effects that are already beginning to unfold.
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An astonishing new graphic shows how blue whales face excessively reduced mobility due to an overrun of hundreds of fishing boats in one of the endangered species’ main feeding grounds in Chilean Patagonia.
The video, created by marine biologist Luis Bedriñana-Romano of the nongovernment organisation Centro Ballena Azul (Blue Whale Centre), was designed to show a week in the life of a single whale as it tried to feed while attempting to circumvent up to 1,000 boats in part of the eastern South Pacific.
It was released as part of a study, published in the journal
Sam Hancock4 February 2021 08:14
Johnson ‘risks humiliation’ over Cumbria coal mine
Nasa’s former senior climate scientist has penned an open letter to Boris Johnson, telling him to rethink the incoming Cumbria coal mine or risk being “vilified” by Britons for the rest of his time in office.
Dr James Hansen told the PM he had two choices: either to “change the course of our climate trajectory, earning the UK and yourself historic accolades” or “stick with business-almost-as-usual and be vilified around the world”.
“The contrary path is not so easy, but, with your leadership, it is realistic,” the expert told Mr Johnson.