<
https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/sustainable-finance-reporting/countries-pledge-raise-12-billion-fund-coral-reef-protection-2023-10-03/>
'SINGAPORE, Oct 3 (Reuters) - An alliance of nations said on Tuesday members
would raise $12 billion to protect coral reefs from threats such as pollution
and overfishing, but experts warned the funding would only be a drop in the
ocean unless broader climate risks are addressed.
The International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) said it would secure public and
private investment to help conserve and restore coral ecosystems, which sustain
a quarter of the world's marine species and more than a billion people.
"The functional existence of these critical ecosystems is at stake due to the
climate crisis and a myriad of other anthropogenic stressors," it said. "The
window for protecting these ecosystems is closing rapidly."
Coral reefs have come under increasing pressure as a result of rising marine
pollution, destructive coastal development and fishing fleets.
But they are also suffering because of rising sea temperatures, which cause
coral to expel colourful algae living inside them, a phenomenon known as
"bleaching".
Marian Wong, senior lecturer at the School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life
Sciences at Australia's University of Wollongong, said that although additional
funding for protection and restoration would be "good news", rising
temperatures are the bigger risk.'
Via
Future Crunch
https://futurecrunch.com/226-eighth-continent/
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
