The Ocean's Ingenious Climate Solutions | Susan Ruffo | TED Countdown

翻译人员: L Q 校对人员: Helen Chang

So what do you think of when you think of the ocean?

提到海洋，你会想到什么呢？

Maybe you think of a visit to the beach

也许，你会想到沙滩游，

or whales or sharks or coral reefs?

或者鲸鱼、鲨鱼和珊瑚礁。

I think of this.

我想到的是这里，

This is the San Juan Islands in Washington state.

华盛顿州的圣胡安岛。

They jut out of an expanse of deep dark water,

从漆黑的深海里延伸出来的一片陆地，

and they're filled with life and mystery and opportunity.

这里充满了生命、神秘事物和机遇。

But whatever you think of, the ocean is much more.

但是，无论你想到什么， 海洋远远不止这些。

It is a complex physical, chemical and biological system

它是一个包含了物理、化学 和生物的复杂系统，

that takes up 70 percent of our planet.

占地球面积的70%。

And yet we're still really just beginning to understand it.

然而，我们才刚刚开始认识海洋。

What we do know

我们知道，

is that the ocean is a vital part of our life support system on the planet.

海洋是维持我们生命系统的 重要组成部分。

It produces at least 50 percent of the oxygen that we breathe.

我们呼吸的氧气至少有 50%来自于海洋。

所以每两次呼吸 就有一次的氧气来自于此。

So more than one in every two breaths.

It also regulates temperature for the planet.

海洋也调节地球的气候。

So without the ocean, the poles would be unbearably cold

所以如果没有海洋，极地将会变得 异常寒冷，让人无法忍受。

and the equator would be unbearably hot,

并且，赤道地区将会变得酷热难当，

and it would be a lot harder to live here.

人在这里生活将会变得很困难。

Now we think about saving the ocean from plastic or from oil and oil spills

如今，我们考虑保护海洋免受 塑料、石油和石油泄漏，

or from overfishing.

以及过度捕捞的侵害。

But really, we should be thinking about how the ocean is saving us.

但是，我们真的应该思考， 海洋用什么途径拯救了我们。

And what is it saving us from?

在哪些方面拯救了我们？

It's saving us from the climate change that we are creating.

海洋将我们从我们造成的 气候变化影响中拯救出来。

Essentially, ourselves.

说到底，是我们自己。

And so what does that mean?

所以，这意味着什么？

Basically, what we need to do is think about not how to save the ocean,

实际上，我们不需要想办法拯救海洋，

but instead how the ocean can actually help us

而是想办法让海洋能够真正地帮助我们

in this fight against climate change.

对抗气候变化带来的影响。

Already, the ocean is absorbing 25 to 30 percent of the CO2

海洋已经吸收了我们释放在大气层中

that we release into the atmosphere.

25%到30%的二氧化碳。

It is the world's largest carbon sink.

它是世界上最大的净碳槽。

The ocean has also absorbed 90 percent of the excess heat

海洋也吸收了90%的温室气体含有的

trapped by greenhouse gases.

多余热量。

So it is basically helping to keep the planet habitable,

所以，海洋正在帮助我们 让地球变得宜居，

at least for now.

至少目前为止是这样。

And yet, when we think about climate action

然而，我们考虑气候行动，

and climate strategies and climate plans,

和气候变化应对策略 以及气候变化解决方案时，

we often overlook the ocean and leave it out,

总是忽略了海洋，将其排除在外。

because somehow we think that saving the ocean

因为，不知怎么的，我们觉得拯救海洋

is something else we have to do,

是另一件必须做的事，

not a core part of our climate strategy.

不属于气候变化应对策略的核心部分。

And that's what has to change

我们要改变这个想法。

because the ocean is a core part of our climate system,

因为，海洋是气候系统的重要组成部分，

and so it has to be a core part of our climate solutions.

所以，海洋理应是 气候变化解决方案的核心部分。

So what does that actually mean?

这具体指什么内容呢？

Well, for starters, we know that the ocean is already doing a lot for us.

那么，对于我们新手来说，我们知道 海洋已经帮我们做了很多事了。

So the first thing we do need to do to save the ocean to save ourselves

所以，我们拯救海洋、拯救自己 要做的第一件事

is to actually reduce emissions.

其实就是减排。

I don't think anyone here would disagree with that.

我认为在场没有人会反对减排。

But that still sounds like the ocean is a victim in the story,

但是，这听起来会让我们觉得 海洋是一个受害者。

and really the ocean can and should be a hero in this story.

事实上，海洋能够成为 并且应该成为英雄。

The ocean can provide us with solutions to help us reduce those emissions,

海洋为我们提供解决方法来减少排放，

and it can also help us to adapt

它还能够帮助我们适应

to this new climate reality that we've created.

我们自己创造的新气候。

So how does that happen?

那么，我们该怎么做呢？

Well, essentially the first thing we need to do

我们该做的第一件事就是

is to make sure that we keep all of these systems working

确保这些系统正常运转，

and protect the systems that are protecting us.

并保护这些保护着我们的系统。

Because all of that CO2 and heat that the ocean is absorbing

因为，海洋吸收的全部二氧化碳和热量

is actually coming at a cost.

实际上都对海洋造成了伤害。

The ocean is warming and rising and acidifying,

海洋在变暖，海平面在上升， 海水在逐渐酸化。

and we even have evidence now

我们甚至还有证据表明，

that we're changing the basic circulation of the ocean,

我们正在改变海洋调节温度的

which changes the way it regulates temperature.

基础循环。

So the first thing we need to do is really just protect those systems

所以，我们要做的第一件事就是保护这些

that are protecting us.

保护着我们的系统。

But how do we more actively engage the ocean

但是，我们该怎样积极地将海洋纳入

in our climate strategies?

应对气候变化的策略中呢？

What can we do to really use the ocean to help us reduce emissions

我们该怎么做才能利用海洋 帮助我们减少碳排放，

and to adapt to the impacts of climate change?

以帮助我们适应气候变化带来的影响？

What does that practically look like?

这些实际上该怎么做？

Well, we know that coastal ocean ecosystems

嗯，我们都知道近海生态系统，

like mangroves or seagrasses or salt marshes

如：红树林、海草以及盐碱滩，

are some of the most effective carbon sinks on the planet.

是地球上最高效的净碳槽之一。

Acre for acre, they can absorb 10 times more carbon than a forest on land.

拿英亩来说，这些生态系统吸收的 二氧化碳量是陆地森林的十倍。

And that carbon is very deep in the soils

这些二氧化碳存贮在土壤的深处，

so that it can stay there for thousands of years

如果我们不进行人为破坏，

if we leave it undisturbed.

这些二氧化碳可以在土里保存数千年。

The problem is that we’re not leaving it undisturbed;

问题就在于，我们进行了人为破坏；

we are destroying these places.

我们正在摧毁这些生态系统。

We’ve lost 20 to 50 percent of them already,

我们已经失去了 这些生态系统的20%到50%，

and we lose more every year.

并且，每年我们还在 失去更多的生态系统。

And all of that is creating emissions.

我们所做的这些又产生了碳排放。

But if we protect those places, then those emissions stop.

如果我们保护这些生态系统， 就阻止了这些碳排放。

Just like if you shut off a coal-fired power plant.

就好比我们关闭了一座燃煤火力发电厂。

And if we restore those places,

如果我们恢复这些生态系统，

then we can actually absorb even more carbon.

那么，我们就可以吸收更多的碳。

But the power of the ocean isn't limited just to reducing emissions.

但是，海洋的力量 不仅仅局限在减少碳排放。

The ocean can also help us to adapt to the impacts of climate change

海洋还能帮助我们 适应已经能感觉到的气候变化

we already feel

所带来的影响，

and that we know will be here with us for decades.

这些影响还会伴随我们数十年。

Those same mangroves can actually protect coastal communities

这些红树林能起到缓冲的作用， 抵御沿海风暴，

by buffering them against more intense coastal storms

降低风速，减弱巨浪，

and slowing wind and waves.

保护海岸群落。

Another example, oysters.

另一个例子是牡蛎。

In New York City, they're using oysters

在纽约市，人们利用牡蛎

to help reduce the risk of major floods and flood damage

降低特大洪水的风险与造成的损失，

like they saw during Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

如2012年发生的超级风暴“桑迪”。

The idea is that these reefs form dense places

利用牡蛎礁形成了一片片密集区域，

that force water through nooks and crannies that slow it down.

迫使水流从凹陷和缝隙中流过， 从而降低流速。

So by the time it hits the shore,

所以，水流冲击海岸时，

it actually has less power and therefore can do less damage.

已经没有那么大的能量了， 因此减少了破坏力。

And at the same time, they're creating aquatic parks

与此同时，牡蛎礁建立了

人和自然共生的水上公园和区域。

and places where people can gather and be with nature.

Because the truth is that in this new climate reality that we've created,

正是因为我们造成了新的气候，

we will have to learn how to live with water and with the ocean

所以，我们要学会以新的方式

in new ways.

与水和海洋共存。

And so what better ways to do that than with the creatures

因此，还有比利用这些

已经进化并适应在水陆交界处生活的 生物更好的方法吗？

that actually have evolved to live in these land and sea interfaces?

And these are real solutions that are being implemented in real places

而且，基于我们目前对海洋的认识， 这些都是

based on what we know about the ocean now.

正在实际操作的确实有效的解决方案。

And yet the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association

然而，美国国家海洋

of the United States

和大气管理局估计

estimates that 80 percent of the ocean is unmapped,

大约有80%的海洋没有被地图标记，

unexplored and unobserved.

也没有被人发现并且探索过。

So there is so much more out there that we could be doing

所以，对于气候变化的解决方案，

and thinking about as climate solutions,

我们能做的和构思的还有很多，

and so much that we're just still getting our imaginations around.

我们还有更多的想象力可以发挥。

For example,

举个例子，

what if we could actually harness the power

如果我们能够加强海洋的

of the ocean's wind and waves and tides to produce power?

风能、波浪能和潮汐能呢？

The International Energy Agency estimates

国际能源署估计，

that offshore wind alone could produce enough energy for the Earth

仅仅是海上风力就可以产生 无碳化的充足的电力供地球

and 17 other planets, carbon-free.

和其他17个行星使用。

And at the same time,

同时，

we could actually be providing power to coastal communities and islands

我们也可以将电力输送到 没有办法享受电网系统的

that don't benefit from our current grids and systems.

海岸社区和岛屿。

And if we're really smart about it,

并且，如果我们能合理利用海洋，

we can plan and design these systems so that we're creating artificial reefs

我们就能规划这些生态系统， 以此创造人工礁来

that could support wildlife and aquaculture

支撑野生动植物和水产业，

and help us grow food and sequester carbon

帮助我们获取食物和进行碳封存，

and actually help the ocean instead of harm it.

这样不仅没有破坏，还保护了海洋。

Or what if we could harness more of the ocean's biological power

或者，如果我们加强海洋的生物能，

to help us in this fight against climate change?

来帮助我们对抗气候变化带来的影响呢？

For example, kelp.

举个例子，海藻。

Kelp is one of the fastest-growing organisms on the planet.

海藻是地球上生长最快的有机物之一。

It can grow two feet per day.

它每天能长两英尺。

What if we could actually restore the world's kelp forests

如果我们能恢复海藻林，

and actually grow kelp at a scale

并且成规模的种植海藻呢？

that we could use all of that growing power

那么其生长所产生的能力

to help us sequester carbon?

能帮助我们进行碳封存。

Now, that's likely to be a lot cheaper

种植海藻比我们在海洋中

than trying to deploy human-made technologies

用人造技术

out into the middle of the ocean

进行碳封存

to sequester carbon.

便宜得多。

And it's likely to be a lot less risky than changing the ocean's chemistry

并且，相较于改变海洋的 化学特性和海洋结构，

or engineering the ocean,

利用海藻的风险更低。

because we'd actually be working with the natural systems

因为，事实上，我们不是 在和自然系统对抗，

instead of against them.

而是与它们合作。

And we'd probably have a lot of kelp left over

如果我们还有剩余的海藻，

that we could use to feed ourselves and feed animals

这些海藻可以拿来食用，喂养动物，

and create plastic alternatives

或者制造塑料替代品。

that would also help us to lower our footprint on the planet.

也可以帮助我们减少地球碳足迹。

And this is just a sampler of the types of solutions

这仅仅是海洋应对气候危机

that the ocean has to offer for the climate crisis.

提出的多种解决方案中的一个。

The key is that we have to think about the ocean as a source of solutions

关键是，我们要将海洋 视为解决方案的资源，

that we can be using and enlist it in this fight.

我们可以利用海洋 且让其参与到这场战斗中。

And these aren't easy solutions.

这些不是简单的解决方案，

The time for that has passed.

简单的已经随时间消失，

We don't have any easy solutions left.

我们没有简单的解决方案了。

And these aren't excuses for not doing other things,

这些并不是不作为的借口。

these are not silver bullets.

解决这些问题没有灵丹妙药。

So we still have to do the hard work

所以，我们还是有艰巨的任务， 降低使用甚至不使用

of reducing and getting rid of fossil fuels,

化学燃料。

and we still have to do the hard work of making sure

还有努力保证我们最弱势的群体

that the most vulnerable among us will be able to adapt and thrive

能够适应并能在新的气候中

in the new climate reality.

生存。

But the ocean is a powerful source of solutions

但是，海洋是解决方案的有效来源，

that we've overlooked for far too long.

我们长久忽视了它。

And so we need to think

所以，我们需要思考

about how we really integrate it into our strategies now.

现在用什么方法将 其整合到气候应对策略中。

And that comes down to a fundamental change in mindset,

这需要我们在思想上发生大转变。

which is instead of thinking about how we save the ocean,

这样的转变不是让我们 思考拯救海洋的途径，

we should be thinking about how we can help the ocean save us.

而是，我们应该思考 怎样帮助海洋拯救我们。

Thank you.

谢谢。

(Applause)

（掌声）