Happy Wednesday 👋

Blue carbon ecosystems are widely known for supporting biodiversity, protecting coastlines, and storing carbon dioxide (CO₂) to help mitigate climate change.

But just how much carbon do these vital ecosystems store?

Well, a new landmark study sought to answer just that!

And the answer might surprise you…

Here are the impactful insights that I have for you today:

• Quantifying the carbon in blue carbon ecosystems 🌊
• Providing dance lessons & schooling to kids in need 💃🕺
• The resurgence of turtles in Cyprus 🐢
• US plans to launch its first hydrogen-powered train 🚆
• And more… 💚

🌊 The Landmark Study on Blue Carbon Ecosystems

1️⃣ The big picture: A recent, landmark study conducted by the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) found that UK seabeds store 244 million tonnes of organic carbon in their top 10 cm, primarily in mud and silt. This “blue carbon” comes from marine life like phytoplankton that die and sink to the ocean floor, where their carbon is stored in sediments. The study is the first in the world that attempts to quantify the amount of carbon stored in all seabed habitats. 

2️⃣ Why is this good news: The study emphasizes the importance of seabed habitats as significant carbon sinks, surpassing even UK forests in their capacity to capture carbon. The study also highlights that human activities like bottom trawling disturb these seabeds, potentially releasing significant amounts of carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere. If left undisturbed, UK seabed habitats could capture up to 13 million tonnes of carbon annually—almost three times more than the 4.8 million tonnes captured by UK forests. 

3️⃣ What’s next: Ultimately, the study stresses the need for greater awareness and action to protect these vital blue carbon stores, given their significant role in mitigating climate change. The researchers call for stronger protections for marine areas, as only 43% of the UK’s blue carbon is currently within protected areas. They also recommend introducing blue carbon impact assessments to limit harmful activities, tracking carbon sequestration in accessible habitats like seagrass and salt marshes, and conducting more research on deeper sediments. 

You can also check out our articles about blue carbon, including: 

• Blue Carbon Offsets Explained
• 10 Best Blue Carbon Offsets (Complete 202X List)
• What Are Blue Carbon Offsets and How Do They Work?
• Blue Carbon Offsets: All 6 Pros and 4 Cons Explained
• How Effective & Efficient Are Blue Carbon Offsets?

💃🕺 Fundación Sondeluz: Providing Dance Lessons & Schooling to Kids in Need as Part of The Most Impactful Advent Calendar

🎄📅 In case you missed it: We are currently creating The Most Impactful Advent Calendar for you, to provide an impactful alternative to the mainstream Advent calendars that mostly offer short-lived joy through unhealthy sweets or cheap toys! 

🤝 And today, I’d like to introduce you to one of our charity partners that will do a good deed in your name: Fundación Sondeluz!

🫶 Sondeluz was founded in September 2000 by La Maestra Luz Ayde and has quickly developed into one of the best dancing schools in Colombia. They have trained a number of students to become world champions and participate in global shows all around the world. And through the Fundación Sondeluz, they create a permanent social fabric, to help the community, providing job opportunities, and offering scholarships for children, youth, and adults with dance talent.

👉 Join the waitlist for The Most Impactful Advent Calendar today! After signing up, you’ll also be greeted with a quick questionnaire to share your feedback and input—alternatively, hit “reply” and let me know your thoughts about this project directly via email!

Related: You can also read a summary of all the latest project updates here.

📢 More Good News…

☀️ Solar energy to break new records in 2024:

• The global solar sector is set to break new records in 2024, with projections of 593GW in new capacity, as per a report from think tank Ember. This marks a 29% year-on-year increase, following an 87% rise in 2023. 
• Key markets driving this boom include China, India, the US, Germany, and Brazil, which together account for 75% of solar additions this year.
• The growth far surpasses the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) earlier forecast, highlighting the rapid expansion of solar as the cheapest energy source worldwide.

🐢 How turtles are making a comeback on Cyprus beaches:

• Green and loggerhead turtles have made a significant comeback on beaches controlled by two British military bases in Cyprus, with a record 382 nests recorded this year. This marks a 25% increase over the previous year, thanks to decades of conservation efforts.
• Since 1994, base authorities have implemented a “hands-off” approach and strict regulations to protect nesting areas, with fines of up to €17,000 or prison sentences for violations.
• Over the next decade, further investments of over £1 billion are expected in the military bases, which house crucial airfields and communication equipment.

🚆 US to launch its first hydrogen powered train: 

• The US is set to launch its first zero-emission hydrogen-powered passenger train, the FLIRT H₂, later this year in Southern California. 
• The train has already set a world record by traveling 1,742 miles on a single charge, making it into the Guinness Book of World Records.
• This move is part of a broader shift in the US rail industry toward sustainability, with companies like Amtrak targeting net-zero emissions by 2045. Hydrogen-powered trains like the FLIRT H₂ are also part of a growing global trend toward cleaner transportation solutions, offering a significant step toward zero-emission travel.

🤝 Important Awareness Events At a Glance

👉 September 23, International Day of Sign Language:

• International Day of Sign Language was founded in 2018 after a proposal from the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) to better represent the deaf community. Today, the WFD is a federation of 133 national associations of deaf people, all working to preserve sign language and deaf culture as a whole. 
• International Day of Sign Language is also a great time to encourage more members of the public, as well as organizations and businesses, to learn sign language to create a more inclusive society.

🌿 September 26, World Environmental Health Day: 

• World Environmental Health Day exposes the health risks to humans associated with a polluted environment. 
• Millions of people live in highly polluted areas, so it is necessary to bring awareness to the potential risks they might be facing and to advocate for a cleaner environment for the sake of human health. 

✈️ September 27, World Tourism Day: 

• World Tourism Day highlights the importance of the tourist industry to many world economies, but also advocates for more economic and environmental sustainability within tourism.
• This day is especially significant as a way to celebrate tourism in the era of climate change and COVID-19, which have both changed the nature of this industry dramatically. 

Related: You can discover all the 65 most important awareness events (for the month, days, weeks) in our awareness calendar for September 2024!

📜 These Days in History

⚖️ September 25, 1789: The first twelve amendments to the Constitution were officially put forth by the US Congress. These included the right to free speech and the right to a fair trial. 

📖 September 27, 1962: Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring” was published. The book highlighted the dangerous effects of man-made pesticides on humans, animals, and ecosystems, thereby kickstarting the environmentalist movement in America.

💭 Quote of the Day

“The balance of nature is not a status quo; it is fluid, ever shifting, in a constant state of adjustment. Man, too, is part of this balance.”

― Rachel Carson; American marine biologist, writer, and conservationist 

Share the news with your friends to make a bigger positive impact on the world and society!

Stay impactful 💚