Coral Reefs: A Race Against Time

Coral reefs are vanishing at terrifying speeds. When ocean temperatures rise just half a

degree above 28 Celsius, coral undergoes bleaching. This means they

literally kick out their algae partners that give them color and food. Without these algae,

coral starves within weeks. Since the 1980s, we've lost 19 percent of all reefs worldwide.

The Great Barrier Reef lost half its coral cover in just 27 years. These ecosystems

feed 500 million people and protect coastlines from tsunamis by absorbing 97 percent of wave

force. Scientists are racing to find solutions, from creating coral nurseries to selecting

heat-resistant species. But here's the reality: if we don't cut carbon emissions drastically,