Chinese scientists share results in efforts to store carbon in world's oceans

Chinese scientists in Beijing shared the latest results in advancing the Global Ocean Negative Carbon Emission (Global ONCE) program, which aims to evoke the ocean as a carbon sink in an effort to fight climate change.

The announcement was made at the ongoing 2024 World Science and Technology Development Forum. Themed "Science and Technology for the Future," the forum brings together global minds to advance high-quality development and promote international scientific and cultural exchange.

At the sub-forum on interdisciplinary integration and development to provide solutions for achieving sustainable development, a team of Chinese scientists briefed the attendees on the progress of Global ONCE and announced the establishment of the China-U.S.-European ONCE Demonstration Base and the Asian sub-center.

ONCE means storing carbon dioxide in the ocean artificially through the implementation of ecological engineering and continuously exerting the capacity of the ocean, the largest active carbon reservoir on Earth.

Chinese scientists have long been studying ocean carbon sinks and have proposed a theoretical "marine microbial pump," which would convert carbon dioxide into inert dissolved organisms through the action of microorganisms, thus achieving long-term storage in the ocean, even for thousands of years. This achievement has been included in the United Nations Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission White Paper.

Peter Thomson, United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Ocean, also attended the event and he highlighted the importance of international cooperation in ocean studies and protection.

"There's actually only one ocean. So we have to be universal in our understanding of it. We have to be universal in our cooperation about what we have to do to keep it healthy. Only through international cooperation can we have a healthy ocean. And it's always very encouraging for me to see the way that our scientists are so happy to see each other and to exchange ideas. The scientific community operates without boundaries, and that is the way it must be because we only have one planet and one ocean. And we have a climate crisis and so we have to all get together and deal with that crisis," he said.

Chinese scientists share results in efforts to store carbon in world's oceans

A great number of migratory birds including the rare species have arrived in a wetland in Quanzhou City, east China's Fujian Province, for stopover, forage and molt as the area has become an ideal habitat and wintering site along the East Asia-Australasia flyway for migratory birds.

According to experts, migratory birds have been arriving at the Weitou Bay since late September, with continuously growing number.

Among them, black-billed gulls and black-bellied plovers are regular visitors to the Weitou Bay to spend the winter.

Spoon-billed sandpipers, under first-class national protection in China, have also been spotted at the area.

Experts said that currently four spoon-billed sandpipers have been found. Measuring only 14 to 16 centimeters in length, these birds arrived at the Weitou Bay nearly a month earlier compared to previous years.

The rich variety of food at the bay offers migratory birds a diverse choice, making it one of the key reasons why they are drawn to the bay.

The bay is expected to see a peak arrival period of wintering migratory birds in just over a week.

To provide a safer wintering environment for rare migratory birds, local forestry department manages human activities along migration routes. They also use technologies such as satellite remote sensing and drones to conduct real-time monitoring and assessment of the important habitats for the migratory birds.

In addition, local government continues to advance the protection and restoration of wetland ecosystems to enhance the wintering habitats for birds.

"Across the Quanzhou Bay area, spanning five counties and cities, high-definition cameras are used for the identification and monitoring of birds. Additionally, through the construction of the blue bay area, we are working to enhance habitat diversity, providing birds with a beautiful environment and a variety of food sources," said Xu Jianlin, forestry engineer at the Jinjiang City Forestry and Landscaping Bureau.

Ideal habitat in Fujian lures flocks of wintering migratory birds