Coral reefs are a crucial part of the marine ecosystem, providing habitats for all sorts of marine life and protecting coastlines from storm damage. But scientists say rising ocean temperatures are posing a grave threat to the future of the world’s reefs. Ali Rogin reports.

A report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration revealed that 84 percent of the planet’s coral reefs have been hit. The Smithsonian’s Melanie McField says the bleaching is triggered by prolonged exposure to elevated ocean temperature due to human caused climate change.

Melanie McField, Healthy Reefs for Healthy People: It’s very alarming. So I think people really need to recognize what they’re doing by the inaction. It’s the kiss of death for coral reefs.

  • oxysis@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
    20·
    1 day ago

    I could never imagine wanting to bring a child into this world right now. Poor babies will grow up in a hollow husk of a once beautiful world. They will never get to experience so many beautiful things and will be forced to live in a world that will be fighting over water resources.

    • iheartneopets@lemm.eeEnglish
      63·
      20 hours ago

      While many beautiful things are passing away, that implies that there aren’t still beautiful things here worth fighting for. I see value in bringing new people into the world and helping them love it and it’s life like I do. The world needs more people who care fighting for it, not less.

      • ToastedRavioli@midwest.socialEnglish
        3·
        14 hours ago

        I think for a lot of people, its a matter of seeing it as most of the beautiful things will be gone within 20 years, and the only thing left to admire will be lichen and cockroaches. In that scenario, what quality of life will your hypothetical child have?

        • iheartneopets@lemm.eeEnglish
          11·
          11 hours ago

          I definitely get it. Ecological fallout keeps me up in cold sweats more nights than not. I’m not sure most people realize how bad it could get, either. All the trees in the world don’t make enough oxygen to replace the oxygen we’d need if the cyanobacteria in the ocean dies out, and it’s getting perilous with the acidification of the ocean.

          That said, I do still see raising a child well as an act of hope for the future. As a parent, that’s my most important mission. Could they possibly die/suffer? Yes, but unfortunately that’s a risk that all parents run by having a child (and all people run by being alive), no matter what the cause turns out to be. Climate disaster, leukemia, car wreck, it all nets the same thing— pain and suffering for your child. I guess I just take the stance of the Man and the Boy in the Road: we’re the ones that carry the fire, and we have to keep carrying it to keep hope and other good things alive.

          I’m not saying everyone needs to have kids though! It’s rewarding, but this shit is hard as fuck. It’s not for everyone. Hell, it wasn’t for me until I aged about three decades and did serious work on myself. Adoption is also an option, though harder to do than most people think unfortunately :/