THE VOICE OF WHALES

Whales & Climate change

Whales are allies it the fight against climate change!

Whales are not only majestic ocean giants – they are powerful allies in the fight against climate change. Through their life cycle and behavior, whales store carbon, fertilize the ocean, and support the tiny phytoplankton that provide us with oxygen. Protecting whales means protecting the planet – and every breath we take.

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Whale Fall

Whales accumulate carbon in their bodies during their long lives. When whales die, they sink to the bottom of the ocean; each great whale sequesters 33 tons of CO2 on average, taking that carbon out of the atmosphere for centuries. (This is called the Whale Fall.)A tree, meanwhile, absorbs only up to 48 pounds of CO2 a year.

Whale pump

In addition to binding significant amounts of CO2 themselves, whales also support the production of phytoplankton with their poop (yes, that's right).Whales feed at the bottom of the ocean and poop near the surface, bringing valuable nutrience to the surface. (The Whale pump.)The whale poop functions as fertiliser for phytoplankton, which captures as much CO2 as 1.7 trillion trees, or four Amazon forests.

Whales help us breathe

As mentioned above whales are part of a sensitive ecosystem, supporting the production of phytoplankton. Phytoplankton are the lungs of our oceans and contribute at least 50% of all oxygen to the Earth’s atmosphere. This is every second breath!

Dive deeper

Watch this video for a deeper understanding.
This video explains how their life cycles support healthy oceans, capture carbon, and sustain the very systems that keep our planet in balance. Discover why protecting whales means protecting our future.

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