Part 6/12:
An illustrative example of this crisis is coral reefs, often called the "rainforests of the sea." It is projected that by 2050, 90% of the world’s coral reefs might be extinct if current trends continue. Recent studies indicate that in 2023, 85% of coral experiences bleaching, a stress response due to warming waters. While bleaching does not necessarily mean death, repeated bleaching episodes severely weaken coral colonies, leading to collapse.