“Let the Ocean Breathe” UN Ambassador for the Ocean Supports: Every Second Breath of Oxygen We Take Comes from the Ocean
Peter Thomson, UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean Talked about the Importance of “Let the Ocean Breathe”: “Every Second Breath of Oxygen We Take Comes from the Ocean”
Peter Thomson, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Ocean Issues, addressed the (IOC/UNESCO) 2021 Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission-UNESCO Ocean Literacy Training Courses, and the 2024 Global Ocean Development Forum respectively. He elaborated on the importance of “Let the ocean exhale oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide.”. He expressed:
“In so saying I reiterated the fact that every second breath of oxygen we take comes from the Ocean” (UN News, 2024) “Making good use of the ocean and controlling human carbon emissions is a topic worthy of discussion by marine scientists” (China.org.cn, 2024)
The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) special report on global warming shows that once global temperatures rise by more than 2°C above pre-industrial levels, we will lose the vast majority of coral reefs on the planet. Meanwhile, the World Meteorological Organization warns us that on current trends in CO2 emissions, temperatures will rise between 3°C and 5°C by the end of the century. In other words, if current trends in greenhouse gas emissions continue, coral extinctions will double. In view of this, the United Nations General Assembly launched the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) (‘the Ocean Decade’) seeks to stimulate ocean science and knowledge generation to reverse the decline of the state of the ocean system and catalyse new opportunities for sustainable development of this massive marine ecosystem. Ocean: Not Breathing, Planet: Not Healthy The health of the oceans is declining. Human pollution, chemicals and plastics, as well as overfishing, all pose challenges to ocean protection. Making good use of the ocean and controlling human carbon emissions is a topic worthy of discussion by marine scientists. “Let the Ocean Breathe” – absorbing heat and carbon dioxide, playing an important role in mitigating the impact of climate change, the ocean also produces at least 50% of the Earth’s oxygen. Will Legend and Nanpeng Islands Ocean Ecology National Nature Reserve Administration Management Bureau use the South China Sea as the starting point, jointly promote the “Let the Ocean Breathe” Conservation and Education programme, and launch “South China Sea – 350 The Blue Ocean Journey” SDG14 Research Trip and Educational Tour, promote avoid overfishing, and reduce ocean pollution. There are as many as 1,308 species of marine life distributed in the reserve, it is also a migratory and habitat area for many rare, and protected aquatic wildlife such as Chinese white dolphins, finless porpoises, and corals. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Are Increasing Today’s climate change is mainly caused by excessive emissions of carbon dioxide produced by human activities. Rising concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are leading to significant climate warming, rising sea levels, consequent melting of glaciers and ocean acidification, leading to loss of biodiversity. In other words, the relationship between glaciers, land and oceans is inseparable. Without healthy ecosystems, we cannot have a healthy Earth. The increasing emissions of greenhouse gases caused by human activities have led to global warming. The situation is like covering the Earth with a quilt, preventing heat from being reflected into space, causing the Earth’s temperature to rise. Currently, we are experiencing unprecedented rapid climate warming due to human activities, such as the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuels. As the temperature rises, the Earth also begins to suffer from “illness”. The reason is that everything, and all living things on the Earth are closely intertwined with each other. Once nature loses its ability to balance, humans will not be able to survive alone. Blue Ocean, Blue Economy
Fish provides 20% of animal protein to about 3 billion people. Will Legend promotes “Supporting Social and Economic Development with Marine Ecology, and Giving Back to Marine Conservation with Economic Achievements.” That is, while improving economic and social development, we practice peaceful and balanced coexistence with nature, and seek peace and prosperity for mankind now and in the future, healthy and prosperous sustainable development to achieve “Coexisting of Humans and Nature”. Will Legend advocates protecting the ocean to build a healthy, prosperous and sustainable future. The ocean is the largest “Treasure House of Resources” on the Earth, containing about 80% of the biological resources on the Earth, with as many as 200,000 species of marine life; marine oil and gas resources are rich, accounting for about 45% of the world’s total oil and gas; polymetallic nodules, cobalt rich crust, rare-earth metals, flammable ice and other mineral and energy resources. In addition, the ocean can also provide a variety of clean energy sources such as offshore wind energy, tidal energy, wave energy, and temperature difference energy. Many human economic activities such as marine fisheries, maritime transportation, ship construction, marine energy, and marine tourism rely on the ocean. Peter Thomson, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Ocean, said, “According to data analysis, the amount of plastic in the ocean will exceed fish by 2050, which requires us to take action to prevent plastic pollution of the ocean. Another example, according to the United Nations Food and According to statistics from agricultural organizations, overfishing currently accounts for 34% of global fishery catches, which requires us to crack down on illegal fishing and manage vessels well.” Marine Elf and The Last Pure Ocean on Earth In order to avoid toxic substances in the air, Willy Bee took a deep breath and immediately dived into the South China Sea at 23.5 degrees north latitude – the last pure ocean on Earth. Then a pink-white halo slowly swam towards Willy Bee. “I am the elf and goodwill ambassador that connects the land (green corridor) and the ocean. In 2020, glaciers, rivers, forests, land and oceans were originally connected and integrated. Due to humans’ harsh demands, nature could no longer cure itself. As a result, the climate began to warm, extreme weather occurred frequently, all glaciers had melted, and fresh water resources were almost impossible to find; marine phytoplankton disappeared, and the Earth was filled with greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, makes it impossible for living things to breathe clean air; forests have also disappeared from the land, the land is so polluted that food can no longer be grown, and living things are almost extinct.” Chinese white dolphin said. “I know that bees are messengers connecting to heaven. Can you pray to heaven and then take my two friends back to the Earth 30 years ago to find the last piece of pure land on Earth together? You’ll take the pure land there as a starting point, educate humans the belief of living harmoniously with nature. Besides, you’ll promote the integration of humans, society, economy and nature, so as to achieve sustainable development for the future of humans and nature.” said the Chinese White Dolphin. The Ocean Crossing Journey of Small Algae & Big Whale The story begins with the big whales dive underwater to find food and return to the water surface to breathe. Whales bring minerals up to the ocean surface through their vertical movement, called the “Whale Pump”. From time to time, the big whales migrate their feeding and breeding grounds across oceans, called the “Whale Conveyor Belt”. For every journey, they always bring with their good friends – the tiny algae, or more precisely, the microalgae (Phytoplankton). It turns out that whales’ waste products contain substances — especially iron and nitrogen, the nutrients which phytoplankton need for growing. The is how the tiny algae work with big whales and produce oxygen to the atmosphere. Whales (Blue Whales) Combat Climate Change
When whales defecate, they release iron to promote the growth of phytoplankton (algae), increase photosynthesis, absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen, improving the global climate. Other marine plankton and small fish, including krill, also thrive in the presence of whales. When these whale nutritious meals sink to the bottom of the sea, some organisms that live on the bottom of the sea all year round also receive nutrients. Therefore, supporting ocean protection and reducing ocean pollution will not only protect the survival of whales (blue whales), but more importantly, other marine life and even the entire Earth’s ecosystem can be protected in the process. Safeguard The Ocean, Let the Ocean Breathe
The ocean produces oxygen through the phytoplankton (microalgae). These single-celled photosynthetic marine algae live near the surface. Microalgae are generally very good at turning carbon dioxide, nutrients and water into proteins, fats and carbohydrates through photosynthesis. They provide food for a wide range of sea creatures in a balanced ecosystem. Just like plants, they consume carbon dioxide, make carbohydrates using light energy, produce at least 50% of the planet’s oxygen. Besides, these microscopic creatures absorb about 37 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), an estimated 40 percent of all CO2 produced. This is equivalent to the amount of CO2 absorbed by 1.70 trillion trees — four Amazon forests’ worth. Whales accumulate carbon in their bodies during their long lives, each great whale sequesters 33 tons of CO2 on average. When they die (whale fall), they sink to the bottom of the ocean, taking that carbon out of the atmosphere for centuries. A tree, meanwhile, absorbs only up to 48 pounds of CO2 approximately a year*. Therefore, phytoplankton and whales are the excellent examples of carbon sequestration. Will Legend educates public, and encourages kids to create their unique “Ocean Oxygen Tank” by planting phytoplankton (microalgae). By growing phytoplankton to learn how these tiny creatures can sequester carbon (carbon sequestration, carbon absorption or carbon fixation), and form the bases of aquatic food webs (primary marine food web) for zooplankton and krill. These zooplankton and krill will become the food sources of other marine creatures including whales. Phytoplankton builds a balanced ecosystem, saving marine creatures and whales. And of course, most importantly, it let the ocean breathe (absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen to the atmosphere). Starting from the “seeds” of phytoplankton, these microalgae will be returned to the ocean. Ultimately microalgae will be transforming into “Ocean Oxygen Tank”. This is the “Green-blueprint” that Will Legend extends from glaciers, lands to oceans, so as to fulfill harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, achieve peace, health and prosperity, create a more beautiful Earth for our next generations. Let The Ocean Breathe, Cool The Earth Down Will Legend advocates green industry as a “Greenhouse Cooling Patch SDG7™” to cool the Earth. Effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions through clean energy such as solar power, wind power and hydropower. We support the “Belt and Road Initiative” green energy industry to cooperate with especially developing countries, to carry out solar, wind and hydropower projects with digital intelligent management to increase the proportion of renewable energy power generation. Will Legend supports green finance to transform traditional industries to green and low-carbon, transform them into green industries and build sustainable development business models. We also strongly promote new energy corporates such as wind and solar power and enterprises related to the new energy automobile industry chain, through in-depth ESG work participation in society and communities, on one hand, corporates can practice corporate social responsibility (CSR), and on the other hand, it can simultaneously achieve the policy of corporate economic sustainability (Sustainability), jointly accelerate the green forwarding process, and allow the world to reduce carbon emissions faster, so as to achieve the “3060” carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals, and practice the sustainable development of humans and nature. As global warming caused by climate change becomes more severe, Will Legend believes that programmes organized and led at the social and community levels can be implemented more effectively. Absorbing the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, adopting green energy to address climate change, and achieve long-term solutions through glacier, land and ocean conservation and education programmes are vital to humans and ecosystems. The essence behind the various sustainable development activities created by Will Legend is to make the public, and our next generations pay more attention to the “health” of the Earth from the perspective of education and popular science. “Let the Ocean Breathe” Practicess the Sustainable Development Goals SDG14
The core of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal SDG14 is to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. Will Legend created the “Let the Ocean Breathe” Conservation & Education Programme, which uses the South China Sea as the starting point, promoting the importance of safeguarding the ocean and marine ecology and let the public understand the importance of releasing of clean air from the ocean to humans and creatures. Human survival is inseparable from pure water, food and air. Glaciers conserve clean freshwater resources, and water nourishes land with rich nutrients. Water then follows rivers and merges into oceans to let the ocean breathe. Oceans exhale oxygen, and absorb the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide to let the glacier cool, glaciers maintain a balance of accumulation and ablation, stabilize the planet’s temperatures, enable sustainable water resources, and fosters biodiversity and food crops in urban wildlife corridors. This recurring force of nature ultimately allows the health, peace and prosperity of humans and nature to develop sustainably. South China Sea – 350 The Blue Ocean Journey
Will Legend and Guangdong Nanpeng Islands Ocean Ecology National Nature Reserve Administration (Nanpeng Marine Reserve) Management Bureau have joined force to launch the nation’s first “Let the Ocean Breathe” conservation and education programme, together with corporate, organizations, teachers and students to visit Nanpeng Islands National Nature Reserve and enhance the protection of the ocean and restore marine biodiversity. Will Legend advocates protecting the ocean from a social and community level and creates the “South China Sea – 350 Blue Ocean Journey”, and leads the public to embark on a marine conservation journey in a popular way. At the same time, we promote the protection of oceans, microalgae and marine ecology through “Education and Promotion” work, so that the public, especially the next generations, will understand that protecting the ocean is equivalent to protecting human beings’ most precious “pure” air, nature and the Earth. “South China Sea – 350 Blue Ocean Journey” chooses Nanpeng Islands National Nature Reserve – close to the southeast of Nan’ao Island above the Tropic of Cancer. The island actively promotes green and clean energy, ecological construction, marine biodiversity and low-carbon lifestyle, integrating blue Marine ecological farming practices peaceful and balanced coexistence with nature, and seek peace and prosperity for mankind now and in the future, healthy and prosperous sustainable development to achieve “Coexisting of Humans and Nature”. Links:
https://sdgs.un.org/news/message-ambassador-peter-thomson-unsgs-special-envoy-ocean-ioc-unesco-ocean-literacy-training
http://www.china.org.cn/chinese/2024-10/26/content_117508905.htm
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