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12 | THE CORAL CHALLENGE

THE THREAT OF BLEACHING

Gabriel Grimsditch, Programme Management Officer
within UNEP’s Coral Reef Unit, presented the projec-
ted future coral bleaching conditions using IPCC mo-
dels, emphasising two results: identification of climate
refuges for coral, and exposure to severe bleaching
by 40% of reefs. “Corals must be considered a global
asset with direct and indirect economic stakes. Their
loss would have major consequences. That is why
these ecosystems require consistent monitoring”,
notes Emily Corcoran, ICRI consultant.

MAJOR CHALLENGES

What strategy should we adopt to achieve global ac-
tion? “Even with the best scientific innovation, saving
coral reefs will require a well-funded, well-designed,
and rapidly executed strategy with political and social
commitments at the level of other grand challenges.”
That is the conclusion of a study recently published in
the journal Biological Conservation. The lead author,
Joanie Kleypas, from the US National Center for At-
mospheric Research, suggests drawing inspiration
from major challenges confronted in the past, such as STAYING
the Apollo 11 mission, or efforts to cure cancer, which
has involved very high level organisations and signi- ALERT
ficant funding for 50 years. “The fight against cancer
would certainly be the best model to organise an ef-
fective global strategy to protect corals. We have 20 to BLEACHING IN PERSPECTIVE
rd
30 years, we must act quickly”, explained the leading The 3 global coral bleaching event (2014-2017)
US oceanographer, provoking strong reactions on the was the longest ever recorded.
Monaco Ocean Week chat. This could become the norm in the next two
decades, as shown by the severe event seen
in 2020 on the Great Barrier Reef.