How To Restore Marine Ecosystems and Make Profit From It | Giles Cadman | TEDxCowes

TL;DR

An investment manager's personal experience with the devastation of climate change leads him to become an ecopreneur, advocating for profitable nature-based solutions to reverse its effects.

Transcript

until a lifechanging event I was a selfish climate change denying profit focused investment manager who loved fishing and the environment but didn't want to accept why I was catching less fish the ocean has always been a massive part of my life you see I grew up in orbra a small English town next to the North Sea in suffk in fact our house was so c... Read More

Key Insights

• 🌊 The author's personal connection to the ocean drives his passion for addressing climate change and restoring ocean health.
• 💉 Hurricane Irma serves as a wake-up call for the author, highlighting the impact of climate change on the ocean's health and the need for urgent action.
• 🦪 Profitable nature-based solutions, such as urchinomics and oyster restoration, show promise in reversing the detrimental effects of climate change on coastal ecosystems.
• 🧑‍🔬 The author emphasizes the importance of collaboration between individuals, governments, corporations, scientists, and entrepreneurs to tackle climate change.
• 😀 Business leaders face challenges in achieving Net Zero while maximizing profits, but investing in nature-based solutions and incorporating carbon removal into daily operations can make it more attractive.
• 🧑‍⚕️ The restoration of kelp forests, oyster populations, and other coastal ecosystems can have significant positive impacts on ocean health and combat climate change.
• 💨 Politicians and legislators need to fast-track approval for licenses and permits to build infrastructure for restorative nature-based solutions to expedite progress.

Questions & Answers

Q: What event made the author realize the connection between climate change and the decline of the ocean's health?

The author's realization came after experiencing the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma, a category 5 storm, which highlighted the impact of climate change on sea surface temperatures and the strength of hurricanes.

Q: How can businesses lower their emissions and achieve Net Zero in a profitable way?

By incorporating carbon removal into their daily operations and investing in nature-based solutions, businesses can lower emissions while maintaining profitability. The author stresses the importance of moving beyond carbon credits and implementing sustainable practices that actively reverse the effects of climate change.

Q: What is urchinomics, and how does it contribute to ocean restoration?

Urchinomics is a commercial initiative that incentivizes divers and fishermen to remove sea urchins, which are responsible for the destruction of kelp forests. By removing sea urchins, the kelp has the opportunity to regrow, effectively sequestering carbon dioxide and restoring the ecosystem.

Q: How is the oyster Restoration company working to address the decline of native oysters?

The oyster Restoration company aims to restock European Coastal Waters with native oysters through an extensive breeding program. With the help of grants and government support, the company plans to produce enough oysters to restore up to 100 kilometers of coastline per year.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The author's childhood memories of fishing and the ocean influence his life and businesses, but he initially denies the connection between climate change and the declining health of the ocean.

• After experiencing the devastation of Hurricane Irma and realizing its link to climate change, the author becomes aware of the urgent need to address the issue.

• The author explores profitable nature-based solutions, such as urchinomics and oyster restoration, as sustainable methods to restore ocean health and combat climate change.