Coral reefs around the world hav>÷ e suffered three years of coral π bleaching after 30 years of record heat. Itσ∏π← is now clear that coral reefs cann•≈ot survive under the influence of climate ch↑♥ ange. Their final stat♣↕×e will depend not only on society's b×$elief in restoring coral health, but also on∞& the ability to sustain investment and ac"Ωtions that support this comm™ →itment.
Over the past 50 years, the wa☆←&rnings about anthropo♦¥genic climate change and the evidence for ≤€"↔the impacts of global pπ"'opulation increase, resou∞₹rce depletion and energy use have be™♠↔en largely ignored. During this period, local im¥γpacts were translated ✔≥βλinto global impacts. But in the <✔past two years, world leaders have signed the Parγβπis Agreement and adopted the UN's ↑×∞Sustainable Development Goals, marking a dram×γatic change. The Paris Agreement'±♠;s global temperature rise o₹→f less than 2 degrees Celsius is th'π←e only chance for coral reefs to survive. I↓εf the protocol is fully ∏λπimplemented, temperatures will eventually dro€ p, providing conditions for suλ✔✘≥rviving reefs and reef ↓£÷&rescues.
But while the Paris Agreement and '♣÷the Environmental and Social SDGs build onφΩ×✘ existing conventions <§and commitments, the Economic SDGs run cou←↑nter to mainstream trade, financial and corporate>♣ interests. Most businesses follow a line₹∞↔←ar rather than circular δ± economy approach, and emissions (CO2 and otherαφ pollution) are the main driver≤₩≠ behind the decline of corεφ≈♥al reefs. Therefore, transδφ>forming the economic system to be susta₩£"inable and circular, s§ uch as the new EU policy, is a top prioriα¥→®ty, as this will minimise waste and align macro₽ economic practices an↔∑γd policies with economic sustainability goals≥>.
A necessary but insufficient st✘¥αεep in driving this change is to me¥λ₹asure the many benefits humansδ± derive from coral reefs: ₹' coastal protection, foo≥λ∏♦d security, and the impoverishment of more tha≤♠∞n 500 million people. FoΩ&★r tropical countries, coral reφ↓"efs can be a major asset to the world'♠↔®;s largest economic sector, touris↓↕€m. These benefits are not officially re γ¥cognized, so we pay only a fraction oλ∏f the cost for the servicφβ ✘es we provide to the reef. No≤σλ£w is the time to invest in maintaining an±£d restoring coral reefs as a major as≠≠set. Aligning financia✔ l instruments to support this inve↑∑λstment is a crucial first step that"✔ will mark a shift in awareness of the value of × • coral reefs.
In addition, coral reef protection requires★♣☆→ action on an unprecedented scale. In the tδ÷↓ropics, grassroots and large-σ♣←scale conservation efforts are ali"↕÷♣gning community inte$↔rests, businesses and g∏£↔overnments with reef health &∑as an asset. These ar∞ e long-term efforts, but they are always threπ€✔δatened by short-term commercial and ♣ political interests. Usually, the latter w§≠←φins. Frontiers in research biology, such as ↑≈accelerating genetic select₹π₹♦ion for heat-tolerant corals and ex★ ploring potential refuges σφin coral reef ecosystems, will hopefα₹ully lead to effective restoration op'∏tions.
Support and expansion of conservation ®σ₩γefforts are urgently needed↑γ← in all ocean basins, bu≥≈δt they may only be su>♠≤≤ccessful if temperatures stab"↕©ilize with low greenhouse ga§₽s emissions. Two things will wipe out reδφefs' chances of surv≤↕ival: not dealing with non-climate p✘© ressures that erode reef resilie•✔π"nce, and runaway warming of ÷®×more than 2 degrees Celsius. If this happen¥"s, it is almost certain ∑§$that major coral reef systems will not survive ↔↕ ←the Anthropocene.
The state of coral reefs in £♠→the coming years will be a↑♣☆ clear indicator of our ability©™ to change the policies ↓₹÷♦and practices described above. These shift≥§<s will benefit the health and sustainabili€↔"≠ty of the entire planet, so the benefi®&ts of collective action t¶φo save coral reefs will be shared acrβ® <oss the planet.
This article is excerεφpted from Science maλ←gazine, published by Davidσ ☆✔ Obura on September 22, 2017