10th December 2025
When planetary boundaries are once crossed, it is still possible to reverse the situation and restore the balance of the Earth’s systems. However the effect of crossing a planetary boundary may irreversibly impact delicate parts of the Earth’s ecosystems such as coral reefs.
These reefs are important because:-
- They protect shorelines from strong ocean currents and prevent coastal erosion
- They provide sheltered waters for many species of sea life.
- They filter polluted water ensuring clean water for marine life and clean beaches
- They sustain local fishing based communities and especially those located on low-lying islands
- They absorb carbon dioxide
Coral reefs are being damaged by the acidification of the oceans – the depletion of calcium in the structure weakens them. They are also damaged by rising ocean temperatures which stress the corals causing them to expel the symbiotic algae that enable them to feed and which give them their distinctive colours – this is called coral bleaching. (1)
The multiple causes of damage to the world’s coral reefs has destroyed such a proportion that their future is now jeopardised. These reefs are loss of coral reefs on this scale means that we have passed one of the Earth’s systems tipping points. (2)
In the Caribbean, coral reefs have decreased by 48% since 1980. (3)
Info graphic https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coralreef-climate.html
(1) https://www.wwf.org.uk/coral-reefs-and-climate-change
(2) https://global-tipping-points.org/case-studies/#coral
The Green Tau 