The fifth international workshop “Bridging the Gap Between Ocean Acidification Impacts and Economic Valuation” was held in Monaco. The objective of this renowned international meeting was to analyze one of the most important ecosystems on the planet: the oceans.
Did you know that whales are capable of capturing about 33 tons of CO2, 1,500 times more than a tree? These mammals play a fundamental role against this dangerous pollutant, which is largely responsible for the current climate crisis.
That’s why MERI Foundation presented details of The Blue Boat Initiative at this international workshop. The project seeks to install smart buoys on Chilean coasts, which, through an acoustic system, warn of the presence of whales, thus reducing the risk of collision with vessels, one of the main causes of the dramatic decline of these specimens.
Considering its capacity to capture CO2, the Chilean initiative stood out in the workshop organized by the Scientific Center of Monaco, together with IAEA-EL (International Atomic Energy Agency) and CEMAFI (Center for Studies in Macroeconomics and International Finance).
Among several objectives, the meeting sought to find answers to how we can generate the so-called Blue Carbon.
What is blue carbon?
It is the carbon that is naturally stored in aquatic ecosystems. The habitat with the largest deposits of this element is the ocean, which absorbs 25% of the atmosphere’s CO2 annually. It plays a fundamental role, and therefore, whales play a key role.
In fact, according to information from MERI, between 2007 and 2019, it is estimated that more than 1,200 whales died due to collisions with cargo ships or smaller vessels. This is why the Blue Boat Initiative seeks to address this problem, taking care of the species and guaranteeing the generation of blue carbon.
Source: Futuro 360