Ocean Restoration - Update 2023

In this Climate Emergency Forum, Charles welcomes Russ George and Alex Carlin to discuss Ocean Restoration Update 2023. Alex, a reporter, directs questions to Russ, an expert on ocean restoration. Russ explains his lifelong work in eco-restoration and how, when climate change emerged, he focused on ocean pastures and plankton.
This video was recorded on December 6th, 2023, and published on January 29th, 2024 and its content is based on the opinions of the participants.
Russ emphasizes that plankton, akin to land plants, perform 90% of the planet's photosynthesis, thereby determining CO2 levels in the atmosphere and climate change. He discusses how plankton health and abundance depends on mineral dust blowing in the wind from dry land into the oceans, and how increased CO2 in the atmosphere, causing the greening of dry land, leads to less dust in the wind, causing the plankton to decline. Alex highlights the importance of plankton in reducing CO2 to safe levels and solving the scourge of ocean acidification.
The conversation delves into the immediate impact of ocean restoration, explaining how phytoplankton prevents CO2 from becoming carbonic acid, thereby averting ocean acidification. Russ also describes the cooling effect of plankton, creating clouds and reflecting sunlight, addressing albedo. The discussion touches on the swift action needed to counteract climate-related crises.
The forum highlights a significant development in ocean restoration-the EU's Nature Restoration Law, allocating funds to restore natural ecosystems, including oceans, by 2030. Russ praises this initiative and expresses optimism about ocean restoration becoming a global effort.
The dialogue includes a recounting of a successful ocean restoration project off the coast of Alaska and British Columbia, resulting in a historic increase in pink salmon population.
They stress the importance of prioritizing the removal of today’s CO2, with various countries, especially in Africa, showing strong interest in this priority.
Alex shares his experiences in French West Africa, where he initiated the "Africa Will Be the Climate Leader" campaign, blending ocean restoration advocacy with music. Alex expresses the belief that Africa can lead in climate solutions, especially through initiatives like plankton power and ocean pasture restoration. The interview includes a live performance of the song "Africa Will Be the Leader," emphasizing the connection between music and environmental activism.
Links:
- Russ George's Website
russgeorge.net/
- The highly controversial plan to stop climate change | Russ George for Heretics (KZbin Video)
• The highly controversi...
- Moss Landing Marine Laboratories Home Page
mlml.sjsu.edu/points-of-pride/
- Ocean acidification due to increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide
royalsociety.org/topics-polic...
- EU Nature Restoration Law
environment.ec.europa.eu/topi...
- If emissions of greenhouse gases were stopped, would the climate return to the conditions of 200 years ago?
royalsociety.org/topics-polic...
- Ocean Pasture Restoration and COP27 (CEF Video)
• Ocean Pasture Restorat...
Russ George - has worked his whole life in eco-restoration. His companies have restored 250 million trees. In 2007 he provided testimony to the US House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. For 9 years he has been working to create public private partnership ocean pasture restoration companies with nations in 5 of the world’s seven seas with his slogan “Bring Back The Fish.”
Alex Carlin - Foreign Correspondent on Environment for Center for Media & Democracy. Alex is an American who currently resides in Moscow, Russia and has a degree in Russian Literature. He is also a musician who has written songs about plankton power. His climate activism is centered in Africa: www.climate.band
Program Host and Video Co-producer:
Charles Gregoire - Electrical Engineer, Webmaster and IT prime for FacingFuture.Earth & the Climate Emergency Forum; Climate Reality Leader
Video Production:
Heidi Brault - Video production and website assistant, Organizer and convener, Metadata technician, COP29 team lead for FacingFuture.Earth and the Climate Emergency Forum; BA (Psychology); Climate Reality Leader
Our Website:
climateemergencyforum.org/
Acknowledgement:
We'd like to acknowledge these two organizations who helped us to attend COP28.
- Sustainable Population Australia (SPA)
- The International Society for Ecological Economics (ISEE)
Attributions:
Background Music:
- Title: Through the City II
- Author: Crowander
- Source: Free Music Archive
- License: CC BY-NC 4.0
Image and Video: climateemergencyforum.org/ass...

[@maggiehugie594]

Excellent information backed by great science. Worth listening to.

[@louisehoff9467]

Such excellent information from such a caring scientist

[@ClimateEmergencyForum]

Thank you!

[@vthilton]

Save Our Planet Now!

[@raquela8438]

OMG, i remember hearing about planton being used to cool the planet. it was a youtube video years ago, so i kinda forgot. that man succeeded but was put in jail for it. Love this idea, absolutely genius!

[@StabilisingGlobalTemperature]

This is astonishing. Is this task continuing?

[@alderom1]

Plankton Power! You should change the headline: re-upload the video with a new title and watch the video go viral

[@RajendraTayya-rh9mk]

Environment is of mechanical bearings but life has to be cosmological in origin.

[@mikeharrington5593]

Would using ocean iron fertilization also increase the incidence & quantity of toxic red algae blooms? Has the UN banned ocean iron fertilization? Why did the Woods Hole related study conclude that the risks of unintended consequences outweighed any potential carbon sequestration benefits?

[@AfricaClimateBand-to1jj]

Check this for carbon sequestration benefits! Huge! Enough to go back to 280ppm by 2050! docs.google.com/document/d/1aJaIZeaGMfaENM2RWRPhboc3TbiTAklCmB-r0LrS61A/edit#heading=h.jq9c29kvhj1i

[@anaomero4838]

Thankyu for your answers.And your information .Allí he did not said

[@AfricaClimateBand-to1jj]

and please read this on carbon sequestration benefits that indeed far outweigh any risks (for centuries nature, with volcanoes and dust storms, has deposited thousands of times higher concentrations of the same natural dust in the deep ocean areas and there has never been one negative effect, only manna from heaven, food for the fish, etc) docs.google.com/document/d/1aJaIZeaGMfaENM2RWRPhboc3TbiTAklCmB-r0LrS61A/edit#heading=h.jq9c29kvhj1i

[@cityofwelland634]

Well why isn't this being worked on?

[@obsoleteoptics]

Is this a repost?

[@ClimateEmergencyForum]

Yes, reposted to improve the audio volume.

[@scottharding4336]

If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. I think this needs a bit of experimentation and I wouldn't go buy a Chevy Suburban just yet.

[@AfricaClimateBand-to1jj]

Please be aware of the following: the carbon sequestration benefits are huge - we can get back to 280ppm by 2050. This far outweighs any risks, in fact there are no appreciable risks. Think: for centuries Mother Nature, with volcanoes and dust storms, has on many occasions deposited thousands of times higher concentrations of the same natural dust in the same deep ocean ecosystems we are addressing - and there has never been one negative effect. Only manna from heaven: food for the fish, less acid, more clouds/albedo, cooler water surface temperature, mercury cleaned, on and on. Toxic red algae blooms are scientifically not even possible in the deep ocean areas where this work is done. Don’t be fooled by misinformation related to events that occur near the shoreline where this work is never done. We are the Ocean Planet and this is good news. As we become wise stewards of the ocean we find ourselves on a good path to a good outcome.

[@christill]

I wrote a couple of comments earlier I thought were decent. Lost them with the repost. Maybe get it right first time so we don’t waste our comments.

[@treefrog3349]

Ocean restoration? Really? The utter hubris of that concept is liking asking a pre-schooler to fix the space shuttle. We would be better off by unapologetically acknowledging that our collective perfidy has defiled the largest eco-system on the planet. The combination of human arrogance and the "hopium" that it elicits would be laughable if it wasn't so ultimately tragic.

[@bundleofperceptions1397]

Every arrogant fool believes what they specialize in is the thing that will solve everything, but that never materializes. Everybody thinks their going to be the hero in this psychodrama.