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A new report from the United Nations Environment Program has warned that all the world’s coral reefs could fade, or turn white, by the end of the century, unless there is a drastic reduction in gas emissions. greenhouse effect.
“In light of inaction, coral reefs will soon disappear,” said Ticia Carvalho, director of UNEP’s marine and freshwater branch. “Humanity must act urgently based on evidence, ambition and innovation to change the course of this ecosystem before it is too late,” he added.
Coral reefs are very important as they preserve a variety of marine life, they also protect coasts from erosion by waves and storms, and aid in the recycling of nutrients.
Its loss will have disastrous consequences not only for marine life, but also for the more than one billion people around the world who benefit directly or indirectly from it.
When the water temperature rises, the coral expels the vibrant microalgae that live in its tissues, a phenomenon called coral bleaching.
Although bleached corals are still alive, their algae can be restored if conditions improve, but the loss puts them under increasing pressure, and if bleaching continues, the corals die.
The most recent global bleaching event started in 2014 and lasted through 2017. It spanned the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans, and was the longest, most widespread and destructive coral bleaching event on record.
In its new report, the United Nations Environment Program identifies the links between coral bleaching and climate change, and assumes two possible scenarios: the “worst-case scenario for the world economy,” which is strongly driven by fossil fuels like (oil) A “midway” scenario, in which countries exceed their current commitments to cut carbon emissions by 50%.
In the heavy fossil fuel scenario, the report estimates that each and every coral reef in the world will bleach by the end of the century, with an average annual occurrence of severe bleaching by 2034, nine years ahead of projections published ago. 3 years.
This would represent a point of no return for coral reefs, threatening their ability to provide a variety of ecosystem services, including food, coastal protection, medicine, and recreational opportunities.
However, the report notes that if countries achieve the “intermediate” scenario, severe bleaching could be delayed 11 years to 2045.
“The sad part is that the outlook is much more dangerous than before,” said report author Robin Van Hooydonk, a coral reef researcher with the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
“It means that we really must try to reduce carbon emissions to save these coral reefs. The report shows that we must do it more urgently and take more action because it is worse than we think.”
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