WASHINGTON, DC (August 3, 2023)–In response to the increasing ocean temperature in the waters surrounding Florida and the resultant coral bleaching, John Hocevar, Greenpeace’s Oceans Campaign Director, said: “Anyone who has ever seen a coral reef knows how special these ecosystems are. There is nothing like the feeling of being surrounded by the thousands of colorful animals living on a healthy reef. In my lifetime, we have lost at least 50% of the world’s coral cover, and most of the reefs people see today are degraded and dying. There are many contributing factors, from coastal development and overfishing to plastic pollution and agricultural runoff, but global warming is the biggest killer by far.”
“When we allow oil and gas companies to continue to drive us deeper into climate chaos, it is not just a tragedy for our natural world. Coral reefs feed millions of people and provide livelihoods for countless more through tourism. Ironically, reefs also protect us from storms, including hurricanes that are increasing in number and intensity due to climate change. The same reckless dependence on fossil fuels that is killing the corals makes us more vulnerable to the killer storms fueled by climate change. The increasing human and economic costs of the climate and biodiversity crises should be a warning that prompts swift and decisive action.”
“President Biden can lead the way in creating a healthier future for our oceans and our planet by ending the era of fossil fuels and transitioning quickly towards a just, renewable, and clean future. He can also make significant contributions to protecting our oceans and the life they support by ratifying the Global Oceans Treaty, supporting a strong Global Plastics Treaty that caps plastic production, joining the call for a moratorium on the destructive deep-sea mining industry, and adopting measures that address the environmental harm caused by illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.”
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Contact: Tanya Brooks, Greenpeace USA Senior Communications Specialist, [email protected], +1 (703) – 342- 9226
Greenpeace USA is part of a global network of independent campaigning organizations that use peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future. Greenpeace USA is committed to transforming the country’s unjust social, environmental, and economic systems from the ground up to address the climate crisis, advance racial justice, and build an economy that puts people first. Learn more at www.greenpeace.org/usa.
