Podcast Summary
Managing money globally and Understanding climate change's ocean connection: Wise facilitates international money transfers at mid market rates while Ayanna Elizabeth Johnson highlights the importance of ocean's role in climate change and human life
Wise offers a convenient solution for managing money in different currencies, allowing users to send money internationally at the real-time mid market exchange rate with no hidden fees. Meanwhile, in the world of investing, understanding climate change requires a shift in perspective, focusing on the crucial role oceans play in the Earth's climate and human life. Ayanna Elizabeth Johnson, a renowned marine biologist and ocean advocate, emphasizes the importance of feeling the connection to the ocean and its impact on our lives. In her work, she has helped communities prepare and adapt to ocean-related challenges. Whether it's managing your money globally or understanding climate change, these two examples demonstrate the significance of embracing new tools and perspectives to navigate complex issues.
Marine biology's interdisciplinary approach to conservation: Understanding marine ecosystems requires a holistic approach that combines sociology, law, and policy with marine biology to effectively address conservation challenges, acknowledging the socioeconomic and cultural contexts.
Marine biology goes beyond just studying marine life; it intertwines with various disciplines such as sociology, law, and policy to effectively address conservation challenges. The speaker's personal experiences and background influenced her perspective, emphasizing the importance of understanding the socioeconomic and cultural contexts related to marine ecosystems. The ocean, which is largely out of sight and out of mind for most people, plays a significant role in regulating Earth's temperature and absorbing carbon dioxide, leading to ocean acidification. Therefore, marine biology requires a holistic approach that encompasses various disciplines to effectively understand and address the complex challenges facing our oceans.
The ocean's role in climate change: warming and acidification: The ocean absorbs excess heat and carbon dioxide from greenhouse gases, leading to warming and acidification that negatively impact marine life and have wider implications for human populations.
The ocean plays a significant role in climate change through both warming and acidification. The ocean absorbs more than 93% of the excess heat from greenhouse gases, while only absorbing about 30% of the carbon dioxide. This absorbed heat causes the ocean to become warmer, which in turn affects various marine organisms such as oysters, mussels, clams, and corals, making it harder for them to grow and survive. Additionally, the ocean absorbs carbon dioxide, which then reacts to form carbonic acid, causing ocean acidification. This shift in ocean chemistry can make it harder for marine organisms to navigate and survive, disrupting predator-prey dynamics and changing the overall ocean ecosystem. It's important to note that these changes in the ocean not only affect marine life but also have implications for human populations, such as sea level rise and potential impacts on fisheries and tourism industries. Therefore, it's crucial to monitor and address these issues to mitigate the negative consequences of climate change on both the ocean and human communities.
Ocean currents influence climate, weather, and fisheries: Changes in ocean currents could lead to decreased fish populations, increased extreme weather events, and potential impacts on food security for millions of people.
Ocean currents play a crucial role in our climate system, influencing temperature, weather, and fisheries. These currents are driven by differences in temperature and salinity, with cold and salty water sinking and creating circular flows. The North Atlantic current, for example, brings warm water from the Caribbean to Europe, keeping it warmer than expected. Changes in ocean currents, as discussed in the latest UN climate report, could lead to significant consequences, including decreased fish populations and increased frequency of extreme weather events. The report also highlights the potential impact on food security for millions of people who depend on seafood as their primary source of protein. Understanding the importance of ocean currents and their potential changes is essential for addressing the challenges of climate change.
Climate change consequences mean life or death for millions: Climate change poses catastrophic risks, displacing hundreds of millions, disproportionately affecting those most vulnerable, and requiring urgent action to mitigate impact and build a sustainable future
The consequences of climate change are not just numbers, but they mean life or death for millions of people, particularly those who rely directly on the ocean for their livelihoods. The potential consequences of climate change, such as sea level rise and ocean temperature increase, can lead to catastrophic events that could displace hundreds of millions of people. The UN report "Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate" highlights the urgency of the situation, as there are various futures we could have, and even the "good" option still involves significant challenges. Climate change is not just about habitability for the human race, but also about the immense human suffering it could cause. It's important to remember that the people most affected by climate change are often those who contributed the least to the problem, and turning away those seeking refuge only adds to the injustice. Ultimately, the potential consequences of climate change are so dire that it's crucial we take action to mitigate its impact and work towards a more sustainable future.
Our actions today shape the future of the climate crisis: Rapid emission reductions and addressing broader issues in transportation, energy, and food systems are crucial to mitigate catastrophic consequences of climate change. Ignoring the issue increases danger and unpreparedness, particularly for coastal cities and their populations.
The future trajectory of the climate crisis is significantly influenced by our actions today. The best-case scenario involves rapid reductions in carbon emissions and addressing broader issues in transportation, energy, and food systems. The worst-case scenario is business as usual, leading to catastrophic consequences. It's crucial to understand that our actions, or inaction, have a profound impact on the lives of millions, especially those living in coastal cities, which are home to over 40% of the US population and 2/3rds of the world's largest cities. These areas, including New York City, are heavily reliant on the ocean for their development and are at risk from rising sea levels. Ignoring the issue only increases the danger and our unpreparedness.
The ocean's health impacts our survival and quality of life: Preserving the ocean's health is crucial for our survival and the existence of various species. Inaction could lead to chaos and endanger millions of lives.
The health of the ocean and its phytoplankton plays a crucial role in our survival, providing about half of the oxygen we breathe. We are interconnected with the ocean, and its health impacts our quality of life and the existence of various species. The ocean's acidification and temperature increase pose threats to phytoplankton and, ultimately, to us. While an apocalypse-level scenario may not be imminent, the importance of preserving the ocean and its ecosystem lies in the fact that every degree matters, every species saved matters, and every bit of habitat protected matters. The consequences of inaction could lead to chaos and endanger millions of lives, and it's essential to acknowledge the gray area and the importance of taking action at every stage of growth. Shopify and Wise can help support businesses in their efforts to make a positive impact on the environment and contribute to the preservation of our planet.
Managing currencies vs addressing sea level rise: Use Wise for global transactions with real-time exchange rates and no hidden fees. Acknowledge climate change realities and consider managed or planned retreat for sea level rise areas.
Managing currencies and dealing with sea level rise require different but important approaches. For managing currencies, consider using Wise for global transactions at real-time exchange rates with no hidden fees. In contrast, addressing sea level rise involves acknowledging the realities of a changing climate and planning for the future. This may mean stopping new construction in harm's way and considering managed retreat or planned retreat to move away from coastal areas. As the speaker noted, this is a difficult conversation to have, as these places hold not just financial investments but also cultural and personal significance. However, ignoring the science and continuing to build in risky areas only delays the inevitable and wastes valuable time for preparation.
What we're really worried about isn't climate change, it's what we'll do to each other: As climate change impacts our world, it's crucial to consider potential societal responses and work towards fostering a more collectivist and open society to mitigate potential conflicts and help those most affected.
As sea levels rise and the effects of climate change become more apparent, it's crucial for individuals, communities, and nations to plan for the future based on scientific projections rather than best-case scenarios. However, the context in which these decisions are made matters. The world is not an economics model, and there's a risk that people may become more selfish and less collectivist in the face of climate-induced disasters. As Dr. Kate Marvel eloquently put it, what we should be most worried about is not what climate is doing to us, but what we will do to each other. This includes being unkind to refugees, unwilling to share resources, and prioritizing personal decisions over the greater good. The trend of wealth inequality also raises concerns about the ability and willingness of the wealthy to help those most affected by climate change. It's essential to acknowledge these potential challenges and work towards fostering a more collectivist and open society as we face the realities of climate change.
Building communities to solve the climate crisis: Industrial agriculture harms the ocean and contributes to the climate crisis. Shift towards regenerative agriculture and reduce reliance on fossil fuels and harmful chemicals to make a positive impact on the planet and our communities.
The climate crisis is a global issue that affects us all, regardless of where we live. It's not something that can be solved with wealth or bought away. Instead, we need to build communities and support each other in finding solutions. As a marine biologist, I've come to understand that industrial agriculture contributes significantly to the climate crisis and harms the ocean. We need to shift towards regenerative agriculture and find ways to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and harmful chemicals. It's important to acknowledge the severity of the problem, but also to focus on the solutions and how we can contribute. We have the technology and knowledge to make a difference, and by working together, we can make a positive impact on both the planet and our communities.
Collective effort matters in addressing climate change: Individual actions are most impactful when they inspire community movements, follow established initiatives, and recognize the ocean's role in climate change solutions.
Addressing climate change requires a collective effort, not just individual actions. While individual actions matter, they are most impactful when they inspire and lead to larger community movements. The speaker's mother's farming experience, which includes raising chickens and maintaining a permaculture garden, illustrates this idea. The speaker also emphasizes the importance of following established movements and initiatives rather than starting new ones. Furthermore, the speaker advocates for recognizing the ocean as a crucial part of the solution to climate change, as ocean farming can absorb carbon and provide nutritious, low-carbon food sources. This perspective challenges the common narrative around climate change solutions, which often focuses on pricing carbon and investing in renewable energy research.
Regenerative ocean farming benefits economy, health, and environment: Expanding regenerative ocean farming faces challenges, but it offers economic, health, and environmental benefits, including carbon sequestration. Eat local, sustainably-sourced seafood and support indigenous communities to promote ocean health.
Regenerative or restorative ocean farming, which involves growing shellfish and seaweed, can make the ocean healthier while feeding us. This is an important solution to consider due to its economic, health, and environmental benefits, including carbon sequestration. However, expanding this practice faces challenges, particularly in terms of permitting and policy. For instance, there may not be clear processes for obtaining permits to grow shellfish and algae in certain areas. Additionally, recognizing the carbon-absorbing capabilities of coastal ecosystems and providing credit to those who engage in this practice could be a potential policy opportunity. Another key takeaway is the importance of eating local, sustainably-sourced seafood, particularly those that are lower on the food chain like sardines and anchovies. These small, rapidly-reproducing fish are healthier for us and have less toxins compared to larger, longer-lived species like tuna. Finally, supporting indigenous communities and their right to continue fishing in sustainable ways can also be a form of protest against environmentally-damaging developments.
Sustainable ocean farming and coastal ecosystem restoration as carbon sinks: The ocean can absorb carbon through sustainable farming practices and ecosystem restoration, providing food, supporting marine life, and offering storm protection. This approach is crucial for mitigating climate change while minimizing risks and ensuring long-term health.
The ocean can act as a powerful carbon sink through sustainable farming practices and the restoration of coastal ecosystems. This can be achieved by growing appropriate species of seaweed and other organisms in designated areas, which not only absorbs carbon but also produces food and supports various marine life. Moreover, coastal ecosystems like wetlands, seagrasses, and mangroves can absorb five times more carbon than tropical rainforests and offer additional benefits such as storm protection. However, it's crucial to ensure research, development, and monitoring to minimize the risk of invasive species and maintain the overall health of the ocean. While geoengineering may seem like a potential solution, it's essential to understand that it may not address all ocean-related climate issues and could have unintended consequences. Instead, focusing on sustainable ocean farming and coastal ecosystem restoration is a promising approach to mitigate climate change while supporting marine life and communities.
The ocean's role in climate change: The ocean mitigates storms and sea level rise, offers renewable energy, and underscores our interconnectedness with nature. Including diverse voices in climate discussions is crucial.
The ocean plays a crucial role in mitigating the impacts of storms and sea level rise through coastal ecosystems, and it also offers solutions through renewable energy sources like offshore wind. It's essential to recognize the ocean's value and include it in climate change discussions, particularly when considering policies like the Green New Deal. Furthermore, understanding our relationship with the ocean as part of a larger ecosystem can foster humility and remind us of our dependence on nature. Surprisingly, people of color, women, and young people are often the most concerned about climate issues and should be included in environmental movements.
The climate crisis impacts communities of color disproportionately and requires a diverse coalition to address it: Three books - 'Eat Like a Fish', 'Water in Plain Sight', and 'Merge in Strategy' - offer valuable insights into the climate crisis and potential solutions, emphasizing the importance of community, nature, and a multi-faceted approach
The climate crisis is not just an abstract political issue, but a matter of survival for many communities, particularly those of color. The relationship between these communities and nature is more visceral, and the consequences of inaction can be catastrophic. It's crucial that everyone, regardless of race, gender, or age, feels welcome and included in the climate movement. We need a diverse coalition to address this complex issue. Three books that can help deepen our understanding of the climate crisis and potential solutions are "Eat Like a Fish" by Bren Smith, which explores regenerative ocean farming; "Water in Plain Sight" by Judith Schwartz, which focuses on the importance of water in the global freshwater cycle; and "Merge in Strategy" by Adrienne Maree Brown, which emphasizes the importance of community and nature in building a sustainable future. The climate crisis requires a multi-faceted approach, and these books offer valuable insights into various aspects of the issue. We encourage you to read them and join the conversation. Don't forget to rate and share this podcast if you find it valuable. Thank you for tuning in.
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