[Coral-List] COP26 impacts on coral reefs

Steve Mussman sealab at earthlink.net
Sun Nov 21 16:56:07 UTC 2021



“Our message doesn’t come across”.

Perhaps “our message” did come across, but contained mixed signals.

Mixed messages often result in confusion and inaction.

Maybe we have to hone in on a more succinct narrative that directly answers the central questions.

Can we realistically hope to continue to manipulate corals in such a way that they will be able to withstand further insult and degradation including warming well beyond 1.5C to 2.4C or more?

Or . . .

Should we make it clear and unequivocal that climate change (and other major stressors by region) must be effectively addressed or all the heroic efforts to fortify coral reefs are destined to fail?

I can only hope that however you and the next generation of coral scientists choose to channel your energies in response to this crisis proves to be a more effective strategy than that which has been advanced thus far.

The coral science community cannot solve the climate crisis on our own, but we may be able to help build the public support and political will needed to implement more effective policy choices by removing any hint of ambiguity.

Regards,

Steve Mussman

On 11/17/21, 9:53 PM, Franziska Elmer via Coral-List <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov> wrote:

As Steve said COP26 was not able to keep 1.5 C alive and the commitments way overshoot this target.

Steve asked how should we proceed. One thing to think about is what to do with our career as we might loose the reefs they are based upon. The other thing to think about is how can we get politicans to act as if this is an emergency and turn the wheel around. The answer to this is that we as scientists have to act as if this in an emergency. We have written papers, signed letters and petitons for years and they have not worked. 15'000 scientists put their names on a warnings paper and it didnt move our politicans. Our message doesnt come across. Our last resort might be joining others in non violent civil dissobediance and I hope many of you start considering taking action this way. After all most of the success and hope coming out of COP26 happened in the streets and not in the blue zone. Please get in touch if tu ou want to know more.

With love for the ocean and rage about political inaction,

Dr. Franziska Elmer

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