Survival of coral reefs crucial to achieving Paris goals- UN study

Climate Change is set to make UNESCO World Heritage coral reefs disappear by 2100 unless greenhouse gas emissions are reduced in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate action, according to a UN study.
The social, cultural and economic value of coral reefs is estimated at US$1 trillion, and unless CO2 emissions are drastically reduced, they will continue to be decimated at unprecedented rates, and will ultimately vanish.
It only takes a spike of 1-2°C to cause bleaching, and carbon emissions have already caused a 1°C increase in global surface temperature since pre-industrial times. This effect has been magnified by strong El Niño and La Niña events. Ocean acidification caused by dissolved atmospheric CO2 weakens corals further.
“The 29 globally significant coral reefs on UNESCO’s World Heritage List are facing existential threats, and their loss would be devastating ecologically and economically,” said Dr. Mechtild Rossler, Director of the World Heritage Centre. “These rainforests of the sea protect coastal communities from flooding and erosion, sustain fishing and tourism businesses, and host a stunning array of marine life.”