How much would it cost to buy the ocean? - Astrid J. Hsu

譯者: Lilian Chiu 審譯者: SF Huang

Surveying his vast domain, trident heavy in hand,

巡視著他廣大的領土， 手中握著沉重的三叉戟，

Poseidon considers the prospect of retirement.

波賽頓考慮著退休的可能性。

What if someone else donned the coral crown

如果有別人能戴上這頂珊瑚王冠，

so he could spend his immortality harmonizing with blue whales

讓他可以與藍鯨和諧共度他的永生，

and cozying up to hydrothermal vents?

在海底熱泉旁愜意地生活，多好啊？

Poseidon decides he needs to actually prioritize himself for once.

波賽頓決定這次 他要優先考量他自己。

So he summons his accountant and asks:

所以他喚來他的會計師，

how much could he sell the ocean for today?

並問「今天把海洋賣掉 可以賣多少錢？」

Poseidon’s accountant is the top-ranked financial analyst

波賽頓的會計師 是世界頂尖的財務分析師，

to the world’s movers and shakers,

服務全球的權貴巨擘。

its literal titans of industry.

He handles all divine assets.

他處理所有的神聖資產，

When it comes to boiling complex systems of intrinsic value down to monetary sums,

負責把複雜的內在價值系統 簡化為金錢總額，

he’s the guy.

找他就對了。

And he’s actually got a potential buyer:

且他還真的有一個潛在的買家。

Hades is interested in building his real estate portfolio

黑帝斯有興趣想建立 他的房地產投資組合，

and expanding his domain into the marine realm.

並將他的領土擴展到海洋。

So, the accountant already appraised the ocean’s market value

因此，會計師已經評估了 海洋的市場價值，

and prepared a quick presentation.

並準備了簡短的簡報。

"The property covers over 70% of Earth’s surface.

該地產佔地球表面的 70% 以上，

But it’s also quite voluminous!"

但它也相當龐大。

Poseidon knows this.

波賽頓知道這點，

He does annual Mariana Trench swims with sea cucumbers.

他每年都會到馬里亞納海溝 與海參一同游泳，

But before he even gets to his best giant squid story,

但在講到他最棒的巨烏賊故事之前，

the accountant is back at analysis.

會計師已經又回到分析了。

"Marine shipping alone accounts for 80% of global trade,

單單海運就佔了全球貿易的 80%，

generating over $14 trillion annually.

每年產生超過十四兆美金。

The global fishing industry provides over 3 billion people

全球漁業提供超過三十億人

with a significant amount of their dietary protein,

大量的膳食蛋白質，

employs an estimated 260 million,

估計僱用了兩億六千萬人，

and generates about $163 billion every year.

每年產生約一千六百三十億美金。

And oil and budding seabed mining industries

石油和新興的海底礦業

generate around $245 billion per year."

每年產生約兩千四百五十億。

"Some of the ocean’s assets are harder to quantify monetarily.

海洋的一些資產更難量化為金錢。

The ocean absorbs around 30% of human generated carbon dioxide,

人類產生的二氧化碳 有約 30％ 是由海洋所吸收，

and, since 1955, has taken in more than 90% of excess heat.

自 1955 年以來，

海洋已吸收了 90% 以上的多餘熱能。

About 40% of humanity lives within 100 kilometers of the ocean.

大約 40％ 的人類生活在距離 海洋不到一百公里的地方。

Coastal ecosystems buffer waves, reduce erosion, and ease flooding,

沿海生態系統能緩衝海浪、 減少侵蝕並緩解洪水，

preventing over $716 billion in damages annually.

每年預防超過七千一百 六十億美金的損害。

Many cultures have deep ties to the ocean.

許多文化與海洋有很深的連結，

And coastal views and recreation improve mental health.

且沿海景觀和娛樂能改善心理健康。

Meanwhile, it's estimated that as-yet undiscovered

同時，據估計，迄今尚未 發現的海洋衍生抗癌治療法

marine-derived cancer treatments could save countless lives

可以拯救無數生命， 價值高達五兆七千萬美金。

and be worth up to $5.7 trillion.

The ocean generates half the planet’s oxygen

地球的氧氣有一半是海洋產生的，

and, directly or indirectly,

海洋也直接或間接提供食物、能量，

provides food, energy, and minerals to all life on Earth."

和礦物質給地球上的所有生命。

A salty tear cascades down Poseidon’s face that the accountant ignores.

一滴鹹淚水從波賽頓的臉龐 落下，而會計師置之不理。

He can’t give the total cost yet because, of course,

他還不能提供總成本，因為，

recent developments must be factored in.

當然，近期的發展也必須考慮進去。

"Climate change is heating, acidifying, and deoxygenating the ocean

氣候變化讓海洋溫度上升、 酸化且脫氧，

and trash is polluting it.

還有垃圾汙染海洋。

Overfishing and aggressive seabed resource extraction

過度捕撈和掠奪性地開採海底資源 打亂脆弱的生態系統，

are disrupting fragile ecosystems and impacting the ocean’s productivity."

並影響海洋的生產力。

The accountant says, "Sigh, buddy, you shouldn’t worry, though,

會計師說『抱歉， 朋友，不過你不用擔心，

because we can grow the ocean’s investment value.

因為我們可以增加 海洋的投資價值。』

Coral reef tourism already yields approximately $36 billion annually.

珊瑚礁旅遊每年已經能產生 約三百六十億美金的收益，

Considering the revenue of popular dive sites

根據熱門潛水地點的收入 及地區性鯊魚種群和壽命，

and their regional shark populations and lifespans,

researchers estimate that one shark can generate almost $2 million

研究人員估計，一隻鯊魚

一生可以產生近兩百萬美金，

in its lifetime—

making them much more valuable alive than dead.

因此牠們活著比死了更有價值得多。

Sustainable management of fisheries could allow species to rebound

漁業的永續管理 可以使物種有機會恢復，

and bring in an additional $83 billion annually.

每年再額外增加八百三十億美金。

And with growth in offshore wind, tidal, and wave energy harvesting,

隨著離岸風力、潮汐 和波浪能源的增長，

the ocean is poised to help humanity quit fossil fuels."

海洋已準備好幫助人類 擺脫化石燃料。

Now the grand reveal.

現在揭曉大結局。

The accountant's conclusions are similar to those of mortal experts:

會計師的結論與凡人 專家的結論相似。

the ocean alone is worth roughly $24 trillion—

僅僅海洋的價值就有 大約二十四兆美金，

at least— about a quarter of the World Bank’s valuation

至少是 2021 年世界銀行 全球經濟估計值的四分之一。

of the global economy in 2021.

But if humanity reinvests in the ocean's health—

但如果人類重新投資海洋的健康、

fishing sustainably, decarbonizing shipping,

讓漁業更永續、讓航運脫碳、

scaling offshore wind farms, and conserving and restoring mangroves—

拓展離岸風力發電場 並保育及恢復紅樹林，

investments could return up to 600% in profits.

投資獲利率可能會高達 600%。

Poseidon feels the weight of his folly crushing him

波賽頓感受到自己的愚行有多沉重，

like a Styrofoam cup 2,000 meters deep.

把他像沉入兩千公尺深海的 聚苯乙烯杯一樣壓扁。

Reducing such a priceless, generously life-giving natural system to a number

將這麼無價、慷慨賦予生命的 大自然系統簡化為一個數字

is just another symptom of the greatest problems he’s facing nowadays.

只不過是他現今面臨的最大 問題所產生的另一個症狀。

And though he respects the work his brother, Hades, does,

儘管他尊重他的兄弟 海帝斯所做的工作，

he doesn't want the ocean to become an extension of the Underworld.

但他不希望海洋成為 冥界延伸出來的一部分。

He can’t give it up.

他不能放棄它。

Poseidon asks forgiveness

波賽頓尋求寬恕，

and reaffirms his eternal vow to protect the ocean.

並重申他保護海洋的永恆誓言。

It’ll take him a few tidal cycles to realize Hades and the accountant

他需要幾個潮汐循環的時間 才能發現黑帝斯

were bluffing and see what this really was:

和會計師其實在嚇唬他，並看見真相：

a much-needed intervention by a duo of deities who cared deeply about him—

這兩位神的干預是必要的， 他們其實非常關心波賽頓

and the world.

以及這個世界。