ChangeMakers Ralph Chami – IMF & The Carbon Capacity of Marine Mammals

The video features a conversation with Ralph Shami, an economist at the IMF, who discusses his journey from being inspired by nature documentaries in Lebanon to valuing nature's ecosystem services. He explains how whales play a crucial role in carbon sequestration and how this can be monetized to promote conservation. Ralph emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to create markets that protect and regenerate natural resources, highlighting the importance of integrating economics with conservation efforts.

Who were Ralph Shami's inspirations growing up in Lebanon?

• Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton

• David Attenborough and Jack Cousteau

• Charles Darwin and Carl Sagan

• Marie Curie and Nikola Tesla

What is Ralph Shami's role at the International Monetary Fund?

• Chief Financial Officer

• Director of Environmental Studies

• Assistant Director at the Institute of Capacity Development

• Head of Global Trade

What was Ralph's childhood dream profession?

• Economist

• Physicist

• Oceanographer

• Musician

How much carbon dioxide does an average whale sequester?

• 33 tons

• 10 tons

• 100 tons

• 50 tons

What was the estimated value of a whale's carbon sequestration service according to Ralph's calculations?

• $500,000

• $1,000,000

• $2,000,000

• $5,000,000

What is the role of government in making something an asset according to Ralph?

• Promoting public awareness

• Offering tax incentives

• Creating laws

• Providing subsidies

What technology is used in Chile to protect whales from ships?

• Sonar devices

• Acoustic sensors

• Underwater cameras

• Satellite buoys

What is the penalty proposed for harming a whale declared as a national treasure?

• $3 million

• $4 million

• $2 million

• $1 million

What is the new paradigm that Ralph suggests regarding conservation?

• Conservation is costly

• Conservation is profitable

• Conservation is unnecessary

• Conservation is outdated

What fields does Ralph believe are necessary for effective conservation?

• Lawyers, accountants, and social media experts

• Biologists and economists

• Only biologists

• All of the above