How it Connects is a new series looking at the interconnectedness of our planet. In the book Cradle to Cradle, a simple question is posed, “how do we love all children, of all species, for all time?” From this central theme rises the idea that everything is inexorably related and events do not occur in a bubble. Rather, the actions of one will ripple across our planet and effect many things across a long period of time. Therefore, it is important to examine the intertwined relationships between all things on our planet. How it Connects seeks to examine these connections.

1. Shells and SUVs

If you imagine the Earth like a human body the oceans would be the blood. The oceans distribute nutrients to breed a diverse range of life, and channel warmth around the globe to make the temperate zones more hospitable. They transport water and serve as the engine to turn the water cycle. The oceans provide valuable sources of food and have done so since the earliest days of humankind. However, a lesser known benefit of our oceans is their capacity to serve as a “sink” of carbon dioxide.

Millions of tiny creatures called Foraminifera live near the surface of the world’s oceans. These platonic creatures create shells from calcium carbonate which sink down in to the deep ocean sequestering the carbon within for many years. Unfortunately, as levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide increase, the acidity of our oceans is increasing too. More acidic oceans means it is harder for sea life to create calcium carbonate shells. Consequently, Foraminifera are slower to make shells and sequester less carbon dioxide.  Additionally, coral reefs, which rely upon the same sort of reaction, are slower to regenerate and grow. This reduces the amount of supporting ecosystems for our oceans and ultimately means less fish to eat. 

Perhaps more alarming, is that warmer oceans hold less carbon dioxide. For years our oceans have been sequestering carbon dioxide. With less carbon dioxide being absorbed, the green house effect will raise the temperature of our planet, resulting in warmer ocean temperatures. As the oceans warm more carbon dioxide will be released further compounding the problem.

So how do shells relate to SUVs? Simple, carbon emissions from SUVs (or any source for that matter) increase the acidity of our oceans. The higher the acidity the less shells are going to be made, which means more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. In an article published by Reuters today, William Howard of the University of Tasmania in Australia states that “We’ve already changed the pH of the ocean by about 0.1. At these levels this represents about a 30 percent increase in the acidity of the oceans.” 

The rise in ocean acidity is just one small example of how we need to rethink the way we live, do business, and design. Taking the small steps to ensure that your actions are carbon neutral is one easy way to making sure that the world of the future has shells to admire.

Photo Credit: markus941 and Raul A. from Flickr under Creative Commons