Paris, 15 April 2022 (TDI): Coral reefs could be extinct by the end of the century unless efforts are made to make them resilient to the warming oceans as a result of global warming.

UNESCO issued this warning to protect these natural marvels from irreversible harm. Coral Reefs’ survival is at stake, and currently, 29 of them are on UNESCO Protected World Heritage List.

The reefs are sources of income, livelihoods, culture, and food for nearly half a billion people worldwide. However, they may become extinct by 2050 if global targets of Paris Agreement are not met.

Increase in carbon dioxide emissions is leading to warming of oceans. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has advised that states must reduce their annual carbon emissions to limit global rise in temperature below 2°C.

Threats to Coral Reefs

Coral reefs’ survival is at stake due to climate change, marine pollution, habitat destruction, and overfishing. UNESCO aims to reduce these threats by strengthening fragile marine reefs through sustainable management plans.

Global fund for the reefs is financing 19 Word Heritage-listed reefs for protection of coral reefs in developing countries. Launched in 2018, UNESCO has been actively working on Resilient Reefs Initiative on four World Heritage reef pilot sites.

These sites are in Australia, New Caledonia, Belize and Palau. The development initiative shows that local pressures and threats to coral reefs can be minimised by empowering local communities.

According to climate change, these communities can be taught to adapt their income and livelihoods. “Global warming means that local reef conservation practices are no longer enough to protect the world’s most important reef ecosystems.

UNESCO listed Australia’s ‘the Great Barrier Reef’ ‘in danger’ this year. The site has been hit by bleaching due to heat stress. But a healthy, resilient reef can regenerate after a bleaching incident and survive,” remarked Head of UNESCO’s Marine Programme, Fanny Douvere.