Coral reefs as we know them are at risk of disappearing if greenhouse gas emissions are not reduced.
According to a new study, corals will cause sea temperatures to rise only if the planet limits global warming to 2 degrees Celsius, as stipulated in the Paris agreement.
“Given current climate policies, we are somewhat on the path to a three-degree Celsius world. That is, by the end of the 21st century. In this scenario, if we do not allow the corals in the model to adapt, coral populations will disappear around 2070. But more importantly, if we allow some adaptive capacity through genetic adaptation, it can make the difference between the disappearance or persistence of these populations. “, said Dr Liam Lachs, lead author of the study and postdoctoral research associate at Newcastle University.
Maintaining good water quality and reducing fishing practices that damage them will allow corals to be healthy and adapt.
«Coral reefs are the first ecosystem threatened with disappearance by climate change. They protect land communities from storms and storm surges. They provide fish protein to hundreds of millions of people around the world. They support tourism and the fishing industry to the tune of billions of dollars. Protecting all these ecosystem services for the people who depend on them is therefore an absolute priority.” said Dr. Liam Lachs.
There are innovative programs that can accelerate the pace of adaptation, such as one that improves heat tolerance through“assisted evolution” and the selective reproduction of corals.
