Kelp, Forests Underwater

Unlike the kelp forests of Chile, and South Africa’s Cape Peninsula, which are mostly stable, all of the kelp forests of the northern hemisphere are rapidly declining. Off the coast of California, kelp forests have declined more than 95%, with just a few small isolated patches remaining, mainly because of rising water temperatures

Kelp, called the sequoias of the sea for their capacity to store large amounts of carbon dioxide and increase oxygen levels, are home to nearly 1000 species. These giant towers of seaweed also act as wave breakers, reducing coastal erosion.

Ahead of the November Cop26 leaders summit in Glasgow the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the global scientific authority on climate change, issued a report on 10 August stating that some of the changes now are irreversible. Within the next two decades temperatures will rise more than 1.5ºC from pre-industrial levels. This year we have seen unprecedented fires in Greece, Turkey, Siberia, Italy, and California.

Kelp holds the key for cooling our planet.

Guests:

Samantha Deane, director of partnerships and investor relationships at Kelp Blue, in the Netherlands.

Ronan Skillen, a master percussionist who plays unusual instruments from all over the world, and Jonny Blundell, music producer for Rootspring House, in Cape Town, and members of the soundtrack team of My Octopus Teacher, and producers of My Amphibious Soul.

Amos Nachoum, a master underwater photographer from Israel, based in Monterrey, and one of only five people ever to swim and photograph polar bears underwater. 

Please join us!