Although one might think that coral reefs are colorful and beautiful plants growing on the seafloor, these are actually animals upon which millions of people around the world depend. Corals are animals that form reefs, which feed over 25% of the fish population and act as ecosystems in saltwater. They are consistently admired by the world due to their wondrous nature; however, if the development of climate change doesn’t improve, coral reefs could die.
As it has been exposed for years by countless journalists, scientists, and explorers, like Richard Vevers, founder and CEO of The Ocean Agency; the planet’s beautiful corals are experiencing massive die-offs all around the globe. This phenomenon is caused by a process known as bleaching, where increased ocean temperatures due to climate change make the corals look lifeless in contrast to their usual vibrant colors: they first start turning white, then end up with a brown-ish color.
In the aims of portraying the environmental crisis, Richard Vevers documented the Great Barrier Reef, one of Earth's most magnificent natural wonders, amidst its most recent and severe mass-coral bleaching. This devastating event is not an isolated incident but rather the full picture of a global phenomenon, considering that 1,000 miles away from this barrier reef, New Caledonia’s one was in an even worse state. According to a report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), this ongoing bleaching event is unprecedented in its scale and severity, affecting coral reefs from the coasts of Florida to the shores of Australia.
What makes this situation even more alarming is its prolonged nature, given that scientists have indicated that there are no signs of it easing up anytime soon. Back in 2018, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change made certain predictions warning that if global warming continues unchecked and reaches:
1.5 °C, most coral reefs could disappear.
2 °C or more, the extinction of coral reefs would be inevitable.
In essence, coral reefs, often admired for their beauty, are crucial ecosystems supporting millions of species and human beings. Yet, they face significant threats from climate change-induced bleaching events, as witnessed by Richard Vevers and others worldwide. The ongoing bleaching, exemplified by the Great Barrier Reef's struggle, underscores the urgent need for global action. If we fail to address climate change, the consequences could be severe, leading to the extinction of these vital ecosystems. It's imperative that we act rapidly to mitigate climate change and protect coral reefs for the sake of future generations.
References
National Ocean Service. (s.f.). What is coral bleaching?NOAA's National Ocean Service. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coral_bleach.html#:~:text=Change%20in%20ocean%20temperature%20Increased,can%20bleach%20near-shore%20corals.
What would happen if we lost all coral reefs?. MIT Climate Portal. (2023, November 16). https://climate.mit.edu/ask-mit/what-would-happen-if-we-lost-all-coral-reefs
