Spotlight: The Miraculous Corals We Could Lose to the Climate Emergency

Coral reefs are among the miracles in our planet’s remarkable ocean. They’re symbiotic communities of living organisms, a true marvel of biological processes. But their survival is severely threatened by climate change.

Here’s what we’re losing, from whip corals to fan corals to stony corals to lophelia corals to coral species that haven’t even been discovered yet (after all, humans have only explored around 5% of the planet’s ocean!).

Ocean agency NOAA has confirmed our Earth is in its fourth global mass coral bleaching event. But don’t lose all hope! Bleached coral is not dead, it can survive, but it’s incredibly stressed and weakened.

So it’s time to re-double our efforts to curb climate change. It will take all of us pulling together and though it’s an incredibly daunting and huge challenge, we can do it.

The most important step we can take is easy — talk about it!

The second MOST important step you can take is cutting down on all use of fossil fuels. Fossil fuels – coal, oil and gas – are by far the largest contributor to global climate change, accounting for over 75 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 90 per cent of all carbon dioxide emissions. So go all-electric in your home and office and make your home as energy-efficient as possible. As much as possible get your energy from renewable sources, from solar to wind to geothermal. If renewable energy sounds to you like a fantasy, check this out — seven countries now generate 100% of their electricity from renewable energy!

Also two things you can do every day — be selective in driving, and yes – peacefully protest fossil fuels when you can, in whatever way you can.

And remember — all plastic is produced with fossil fuels, so cut that way down too!

Then add more steps to your daily life. Here are some excellent ideas for cutting down on plastics in your life. And to face climate change in general, here are some tips from the David Suzuki Foundation, and some from Imperial College London, and some from the UN’s Environment Programme. Don’t become overwhelmed! Pick through the suggestions and start by doing one thing.

Our ocean planet is a profoundly remarkable miracle in the cosmos. Facing climate change and slowing it to a halt begins with one small step by each of us, and then another step and another.

“You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” ~MLK Jr.

We can do it! 💪🏾