As we seek solutions to healing our biosphere we have a lot to learn from the wisdom of Nature. Planet Earth is a finely-tuned living organism with a delicately balanced ecosystem. Yet the slightest force exerted at either end of a balanced scale can cause it to tip. Human activities like deforestation and fossil fuel combustion, have disrupted this balance, contributing to climate change. Understanding the carbon cycle is essential for developing strategies to heal it. It turns out that whales have a lot to teach us if we are willing to listen.
What is the Carbon Cycle?
Carbon is a cornerstone of life and plays a crucial role in many natural and human systems. Excessive carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the atmosphere contributes to greenhouse gases and global warming. Yet it is important to understand it in the context of the carbon cycle. Though humans contribute CO₂ to the atmosphere there are many ways that we can support nature in removing excess carbon. Humans can collaborate with ecosystems to maintain a balanced biosphere.
The carbon cycle regulates the movement of carbon throughout the atmosphere, oceans, soil, and living organisms, maintaining balance in ecosystems. This creates a dynamic exchange that sustains life on the planet. It is a critical part of Earth’s system, influencing climate regulation, ecosystem health, and the production of energy. See examples below:
- Carbon stored in trees and plants is slowly released back into the atmosphere when they decay.
- Long-term carbon storage is fossilized in coal, oil, and natural gas. Though burning these fuels disrupts the natural cycle by accelerating the release of carbon into the atmosphere.
- Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and convert it into glucose through photosynthesis. This process not only stores energy in chemical bonds but also releases oxygen, vital for life.
- Organic carbon in soil, derived from decomposed plants and animals, improves soil structure, water retention, and fertility. Healthy soil rich in carbon supports plant growth and agricultural productivity.
- Oceans absorb a significant amount of CO₂, which marine organisms use to build calcium carbonate shells and skeletons. These structures contribute to marine ecosystems and carbon storage.
What do Whales Teach us About the Carbon Cycle?
Humans are not the only thing that creates greenhouse gases. Yet the CO₂ we contribute to our biosphere is enough to tip the scale. To correct our course let’s learn more about how nature keeps this delicate balance. Some beings have lived harmoniously with their environment since long before humans came along. One such creature, a mammal like us, is the whale.
“By changing the story, we change our world.”
– Sustainable Human
Have you seen the viral video, How Wolves Change Rivers? If not you should definitely check it out. It was created by Sustainable Human and narrated by George Monbiot (remixed from a TED Talk). The video was viewed more than 45 million times, whereas the original TED Talk was only viewed about 250,000 times. Besides being an extraordinary video, it is a media-collaboration that has done wonders to inspire and educate millions of people. The next video in this series is How Whales Change Climate (below).
Whales fertilize plankton when they poop. This allows the plankton to flourish along with the fish that eat the plankton. The plankton also sequesters (stores) carbon from the atmosphere, helping to keep the delicate balance of our climate in check. More plankton means more fish to feed the whales. If humans stop killing the whales we can let nature work in beautiful harmony to protect our climate.
We defend life in the sea through a unique strategy of aggressive non-violence and intervention against illegal operations exploiting life in the sea. –Captain Paul Watson Foundation
Whales help to keep oceans healthy and there is also evidence that they are quite intelligent. Humans are getting smarter too and learning to apply nature’s wisdom through emerging technologies. Bioremediation is a technique that utilizes naturally occurring organisms to break down hazardous substances into less toxic or non-toxic substances. For example, recent research has shown that some mushrooms can eat toxic waste!
What is Biomimicry?
Regenerative Agriculture and biomimicry are a few other exciting paths to healing our environment and biosphere. One of the most important things we can do is to change the stories about our relationship with nature. This is a primary goal of Culture Collective as we are dedicated to sharing a positive outlook. We don’t need to conquer nature. Instead we can live in harmony with our environment and collaborate with nature.
Biomimicry translates as “to mimic life”. It is rooted in respecting and learning from the natural world rather than exploiting it. Nature operates on principles of circularity and interconnectedness, where nothing goes to waste, and resources are shared efficiently.
We are moving away from linear, extractive models of production. Adopting regenerative practices that sustain both ecosystems and human communities is the way forward. Biomimicry bridges the gap between technology and ecology. It offers innovative pathways to address challenges like climate change, resource scarcity, and habitat destruction. Ultimately, it’s a reminder that nature has already solved many of the problems we face today—if we are willing to observe and learn.
One great example of biomimicry applied to whales has to do with creating efficient wind turbines. The humpback whale’s fins have unique bumps, called tubercles, along their edges that allow for more precise maneuverability in water. This inspired engineers to design wind turbine blades and airplane wings with similar structures, that significantly increased efficiency, reducing drag.
The return of the great whales, if they are allowed to recover, could be seen as a benign form of geo-engineering. It could undo some of the damage we have done, both to the living systems of the sea, and to the atmosphere. –Tim Zimmermann
Carbon-based fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas have powered human civilization for a long time. We now understand the environmental costs of these fossil fuels and have the tools to mitigate damage. Carbon remains key in energy innovation, this includes bioenergy and carbon-neutral fuels. Humanity is learning to live in a more symbiotic relationship with nature. Some day we might even become masters of our environment like whales.
