WASHINGTON – This week, Reuters reported that “a staggering 77% of the world’s coral reef areas – from the Atlantic to the Pacific to the Indian oceans – have so far been subjected to bleaching-level heat stress” since February 2023, making it the largest coral bleaching event on record, according to data revealed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). With the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) starting next week in Cali, Colombia (COP16), Ocean Conservancy experts provided the following statements:

ON THE IMPORTANCE OF CORAL

Dr. George Leonard, chief scientist at Ocean Conservancy, released the following statement:

“Coral reefs are foundational to the ocean as we know it. They provide food and shelter to thousands of marine species, serve as the dietary, economic and cultural backbone of countless communities across the globe, help protect coastlines from ever-growing storms, and even provide much of the sand that lines beaches around the world. We don’t want to risk seeing what a world without coral reefs looks like, but we’re getting closer to that reality.” 

ON THE IMPORTANCE OF NOAA

Ocean Conservancy’s Vice President of External Affairs Jeff Watters released the following statement:

“Reports like this demonstrate why our nation needs NOAA: clear-eyed science giving us an unbiased reality-check on the state of the ocean’s health so we can do something about it. Hearing the truth about the state of the world’s coral reefs isn’t easy, but delivering those truths is exactly why NOAA’s scientific mission is so important.”

ON SOLUTIONS TO THIS CRISIS 

Anna-Marie Laura, senior director of climate policy at Ocean Conservancy, released the following statement:

“We know that moving away from oil and gas is our best bet to avoid a climate crisis and protect coral and other species at risk of extinction. We must act quickly, and clean ocean energy is an important part of the solution. Responsibly developed offshore wind and other ocean renewables are powerful forces that can significantly reduce global carbon emissions. At both the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16) and the United Nations climate conference (COP29), ocean-climate solutions must be part of the conversation.”

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Note to reporters: Ocean Conservancy is sending several experts to COP16. They and others are available for interviews.

About Ocean Conservancy

Ocean Conservancy envisions a healthier ocean, protected by a more just world. Ocean Conservancy is working to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together with our partners, we create evidence-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. For more information, visit oceanconservancy.org, or follow us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) or Instagram.