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When the impact of the climate emergency is visually striking and widely documented, it can be easy to overlook what remains unseen. The powerful images and videos of wildfires in Hawaii and Greece, and floods in China, along with the tragic loss of life and the harrowing testimonies of survivors, are starting to highlight the role of global heating in such disasters. However, individuals, businesses, and governments often resist accepting this truth and are slow to take action.
Yet the devastation in Hawaii goes beyond what our eyes can capture and extends beneath the surface of the water. Experts warn that sediment runoff could suffocate coral polyps, obstruct sunlight, and hinder colony growth. This is just one aspect of a broader catastrophe unfolding before us, which scientists fear could soon become a global phenomenon. Unfortunately, this crisis has received limited attention and alarm. Coral reefs in Central America, North America, the Caribbean, northern Vietnam, and southern China are experiencing significant bleaching due to unprecedented heat stress caused by record ocean temperatures. In some areas of Florida, complete loss of all corals has been reported.
Despite covering only 0.1% of the ocean’s surface, coral reefs support a quarter of all known marine life and approximately half a billion people who rely on them for food, employment, and coastal protection. The growth rate of most corals is less than an inch per year, while deep-sea colonies have been evolving for over 4,000 years. Unfortunately, destruction happens at an alarming pace. Reef coverage has halved since the 1950s, and the rate of loss is accelerating. While not always fatal, bleaching reduces coral reproduction and increases vulnerability to disease and further bleaching. As temperature extremes become more frequent, reefs have less time to recover. In 2018, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned that a global warming of 1.5°C would result in the destruction of 70% to 90% of the world’s reefs. A recent study paints an even more alarming picture, suggesting that 99% of reefs would experience heatwaves too severe to recover from.
Dedicated scientists and activists are striving to save reefs by nurturing and reintroducing corals, although some of these projects have also been affected by bleaching. Potential mitigation strategies include introducing more heat-resistant species, although introducing non-native species carries its own risks within ecosystems.
The primary focus must be on prevention. It is crucial to reduce pollutants, particularly agricultural runoff, and address the harm caused by tourism and overfishing, as these factors increase reef vulnerability to bleaching. However, the ultimate solution lies in drastically reducing the use of fossil fuels.
The temptation to shock people into action is understandable, but not always effective. Instead, humanity must be confronted not only with the haunting images of dying reefs devoid of life and color but also with the awe-inspiring beauty of thriving reefs teeming with vibrant populations. Reflecting on these ecosystems in all their magnificent rainbow glory reminds us not only of what has been lost but also of what needs to be protected.
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