Coral reefs cover less than 0.1% of our ocean, but they are home to 25% of its wildlife and provide livelihoods, food security and protection from tropical storms for an estimated 850 million people in coastal communities worldwide. 

This makes them one of our planet’s most productive and important ecosystems. And yet, with ocean temperatures rising, coral reefs are disappearing at an alarming rate. 

Learn more about the Coral Reef Rescue Initiative, a partnership to safeguard globally significant coral reefs and address the needs of communities that depend on them for survival.

As global temperatures continue to rise, our ocean is feeling the heat. Marine heatwaves pose a significant threat to coral reefs, coastal communities, and our collective future.

Saving 70 with 7

As the ocean warms and becomes more acidic, we could lose as much as 90% of the world’s coral reefs by the end of the century.

Without addressing climate change, coral reef conservation interventions will be in vain. But at the same time, we need to focus on protecting reefs that have the greatest potential to survive in a warming ocean. 

A global analysis has shown that some reefs are less exposed and vulnerable to climate change impacts. And almost 70% of these climate-resilient coral reefs are found in just seven countries: Indonesia, Philippines, Cuba, Fiji, Tanzania, Solomon Islands, Madagascar. Linked by ocean currents which transport coral larvae and fish, these refuges of resilience could act as source reefs from which the world’s corals can regenerate in the future. 

The Coral Reef Rescue Initiative is implementing a collaborative strategy that aims to improve the management and protection of selected seascapes while strengthening community resilience through diversified skills and livelihood opportunities to help build their economic capacity in the face of a rapidly changing climate.