Climate Change: World's Coral Reefs and Oceans May be Doomed Even with Optimistic Estimates

It turns out that we may soon experience the "end" of our world's oceans. Scientists have found that even optimistic estimates for what might be achieved at December's Climate Chance Conference will not be enough to save the world's coral reefs.

The aim for the COP21 climate conference is to limit a temperature increase to less than 2 degrees Celsius by the end of the century. However, even if the conference is successful, ocean warming and ocean acidification are going to continue beyond the end of this century, which means bad news for coral reefs.

"This is now serious," said Peter F Sale of the University of Windsor, in a news release. "I find it very unlikely that coral reefs as I knew them in the mid-1960s will still be found anywhere on this planet by mid-century. Instead, we will have algal-dominated, rubble-strewn, slowly eroding limestone benches. I see little hope for reefs unless we embark on a more aggressive emissions reduction plan. Aiming for CO2 350 ppm, or a total warming of around 1 C is scientifically defendable, and would give reefs a good chance; a number of coral reef scientists have called for this."

In addition to CO2 emissions, there are also other threats to the ocean. Already, we've lost 90 percent of our commercial fish biomass since the 1940s. In addition, coastal waters are being polluted, and a majority of marine protected areas aren't being protected.

"We need to wake up to the idea that business as usual, even clever taxation schemes, will not act fast enough to reduce global emissions," said Ove Hoegh-Guildberg, one of the authors within the latest IPCC report. "This is a global emergency, which requires us to decarbonize within the next 20 years, or face temperatures that will eliminate ecosystems like coral reefs, and indeed many systems that humans depend on."

Related Stories

Ocean Acidification May Cause Major Food Web Changes with Warming Temperatures

Climate Change: Coral Reefs May Survive in Deeper Waters

For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).