The world's coral reefs were probably the first ecosystem to show major damage from climate change. Reefs will suffer catastrophic collapse from climate change within the next few decades unless there are major and immediate reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Already 19% of the world's coral reefs have effectively been lost; and 35% more are seriously threatened with destruction, mostly due to direct human threats. Climate change will cause even more dramatic losses; we are just determining that climate change will cause serious damage to deep, cold water coral reefs.
The 6 page brochure was produced for the International Coral Reef Initiative by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network by extracting material and data from the scientific papers and reports listed below, plus the expert advice and opinions from many contributors. Authors have made some of these reports available for download for valid non-commercial use.
- Wilkinson C. (2008). Executive summary. P. 5-19. In: Wilkinson C. (2008). Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2008. Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network & Reef and Rainforest Research Centre, Townsville, 304 pages
- Eakin CM, Kleypas J, and Hoegh-Guldberg O (2008) 1a. Global Climate Change and Coral Reefs: Rising Temperatures, Acidification and the Need for Resilient Reefs. P. 29-34, In: Wilkinson C. (2008). Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2008. Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network & Reef and Rainforest Research Centre, Townsville, 304 pages
- Heron S, Skirving W, Eakin M. (2008) 1b. Global Climate Change and Coral Reefs: Reef Temperature Perspectives Covering the Last Century. P. 35-40. In: Wilkinson C. (2008). Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2008. Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network & Reef and Rainforest Research Centre, Townsville, 304 pages
- Wilkinson C, Souter D. (2008). Executive summary. P. 3-14. In; Wilkinson C, Souter D. (2008). Status of Caribbean Coral Reefs after Bleaching and Hurricanes in 2005. Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network and Reef and Rainforest Research Centre, Townsville 152 pages
- Kleypas J, Hoegh-Guldberg O. Coral reefs and climate change: susceptibility and consequences. P. 19-29. In; Wilkinson C, Souter D. (2008). Status of Caribbean Coral Reefs after Bleaching and Hurricanes in 2005. Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network and Reef and Rainforest Research Centre, Townsville 152 pages
- Heron S, Morgan J, Eakin M. Skirving W. (2008) Hurricanes and their effects on coral reefs. P. 31-36. In; Wilkinson C, Souter D. (2008). Status of Caribbean Coral Reefs after Bleaching and Hurricanes in 2005. Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network and Reef and Rainforest Research Centre, Townsville 152 pages
- Schuttenberg H, Marshall P. (2008). Managing for mass coral bleaching strategies for supporting socio-ecological resilience. P. 115-127. In; Wilkinson C, Souter D. (2008). Status of Caribbean Coral Reefs after Bleaching and Hurricanes in 2005. Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network and Reef and Rainforest Research Centre, Townsville 152 pages
- Donner S. (2008). Predictions for the future of the Caribbean. P. 129-134. In; Wilkinson C, Souter D. (2008). Status of Caribbean Coral Reefs after Bleaching and Hurricanes in 2005. Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network and Reef and Rainforest Research Centre, Townsville 152 pages
- The Copenhagen Diagnosis, 2009: Updating the World on the Latest Climate Science. I. Allison, N.L. Bindoff, R.A. Bindschadler, P.M. Cox, N. de Noblet, M.H. England, J.E. Francis, N. Gruber, A.M. Haywood, D.J. Karoly, G. Kaser, C. Le Quéré, T.M. Lenton, M.E. Mann, B.I. McNeil, A.J. Pitman, S. Rahmstorf, E. Rignot, H.J. Schellnhuber, S.H. Schneider, S.C. Sherwood, R.C.J. Somerville, K. Steffen, E.J. Steig, M. Visbeck, A.J. Weaver. The University of New South Wales Climate Change Research Centre (CCRC), Sydney, Australia, 60pp.
- Herr, D. and Galland, G.R. (2009).The Ocean and Climate Change. Tools and Guidelines for Action. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. 72pp.
- Salvat B., Allemand D. (2009). Acidification and coral reefs. CRISP Scientific Review, 32 p.
- ISRS (2008) Coral Reefs and Ocean Acidification. Briefing Paper 5, International Society for Reef Studies, 9 pp
- Ocean Acidification: A Hidden Risk for Sustainable Development. Copenhagen Policy Brief No. 1. UN-DESA Division for Sustainable Development
- J.E.N. Veron, O. Hoegh-Guldberg, T.M. Lenton, J.M. Lough, D.O. Obura, P. Pearce-Kelly, C.R.C. Sheppard, M. Spalding, M.G. Stafford-Smith, A.D. Rogers. The coral reef crisis: The critical importance of <350 ppm CO2. Marine Pollution Bulletin 58 (2009)
- The Great Barrier Reef Outlook report (2009) is available from http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/corp_site/about_us/great_barrier_reef_outlook_report
This detailed expert report contains considerable discussion of the current and potential future impacts of global climate change on the Great Barrier Reef and makes recommendations for management action.
- Climate Change and Ocean Acidification: The Monaco Declaration. Monaco - October 6-9, 2008.
- Ocean Acidification - the facts. A special introductory guide for policy advisers and decision makers. The guide is available in 5 languages: http://www.epoca-project.eu/index.php/Ocean-Acidification-the-facts.html
- A Blue Carbon Fund, The ocean equivalent of REDD for carbon sequestration in coastal states, UNEP Blue Carbon Policy Brief
- Grimsditch, Gabriel D. and Salm, Rodney V. (2006). Coral Reef Resilience and Resistance to Bleaching. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. 52pp.
- McLeod, E., R.V. Salm, , K. Anthony, B. Causey, E. Conklin, A. Cros, R. Feely, J. Guinotte, G. Hofmann, J. Hoffman, P. Jokiel, J. Kleypas, P. Marshall, and C. Veron. 2008. The Honolulu Declaration on Ocean Acidification and Reef Management. The Nature Conservancy, U.S.A., and IUCN, Gland, Switzerland
- Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (2009). Scientific Synthesis of the Impacts of Ocean Acidification on Marine Biodiversity. Montreal, Technical Series No. 46, 61 pages.
- Lafoley, D.d'A. & Grimsditch, G. (eds). 2009. The management of natural coastal carbon sinks. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. 53 pp
- Obura, D.O. and Grimsdith, G. (2009). Resilience Assessment of coral reefs - Assessment protocol for coral reefs, focusing on coral bleaching and thermal stress. IUCN working group on Climate Change and Coral Reefs. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. 70 pages
- Oceans +2C - Film on Climate Change and the Ocean…stunning images and a powerful message. Set to a backdrop of stunning photography from the International League of Conservation Photographers, leading marine scientists from Stanford and MBARI discuss the role of the ocean in climate change and the potential impacts of a targeted 2C rise in global temperature. This is an iLCP media production in partnership with Center for Ocean Solutions. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKDzPnWWdaE
- Ocean and Climate are locked in a continuous dance, the condition of one profoundly affecting the other. This powerful synergy is complicated and constantly adjusting to human interventions. Through this site, you can explore this complexity in its many forms -- the key issues and possible responses -- and express your views through our Ocean-Climate Forum. We invite you to join an interactive global conversation about ocean and climate and to engage in individual and collective efforts to address the challenging situations examined here: http://www.oceanclimate.org
- Climate Change and Oceans - Global climate and the world ocean are inexorably linked. This is not merely because the ocean's ecosystems, like all others on earth, are affected by climate changes, but also because it is the oceans that drive planetary climate and weather. Changing climate changes the marine environment, but so too does a changing marine environment contribute to global climate change. Visit the Website.
- Resolution on Coral Bleaching and Climate Change to the Convention on Biological Diversity
- Resolution on Coral Reefs, Coral Bleaching and Climate Change to the World Summit for Sustainable Development in 2002
- ICRI resolution on coral reefs & climate change
- ICRI Recommendation on Acidification and Coral Reefs
- Resolution on Coral Bleaching and Climate Change to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
- Ocean Acidification: A Hidden Risk for Sustainable Development
- ISRS briefing paper 5- Coral reefs and ocean acidification
- New publication: Social-ecological vulnerability of coral reef fisheries to climatic shocks
- Coral Triangle Initiative Provides Guidance on Local Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment
- Coral Triangle Atlas Presents Maps of Regional Change
- Experts Declare Expected Reductions in Global Carbon Dioxide Emissions will not be Enough to Save Coral Reefs
- New research predicts the future of coral reefs under climate change
- Biggest single investment in a coral reef ecosystem
- The IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate
- Besides hot water, coral bleaching is also about location, location, location
- Blue Solutions launches Blue Nature-based Solutions in Nationally Determined Contributions booklet
- Projections of Future Coral Bleaching Conditions using Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) CMIP6 models