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Blue economy – saving whales means saving the planet - BNP Paribas Asset Management

Are whales man’s greatest ally as rising temperatures pose unprecedented threats to the planet? Trees are often championed in the fight against global warming: Photosynthesis captures significant quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2). However, the carbon footprint of cetaceans far exceeds that of forests.

Posted on Apr 14, 2021

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... The contribution of whales to reducing greenhouse gases takes a surprise route, as is often the case in nature: Whale excrement is the preferred food of phytoplankton. These plant micro-organisms suspended in the seas and oceans are major consumers of the minerals in faecal matter which is rich in iron and nitrogen. 

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