Inconvenient Truth of the Day:

The homes and livelihoods of nearly 100 million people could be lost to rising ocean temperatures, unless drastic steps are taken to curb climate change and protect Southeast Asia’s coral reefs.  As I’ve mentioned before, rising sea levels and ocean acidification already pose serious threats to the region (and elsewhere), but the new study, presented by the World Wildlife Fund at this year’s World Ocean Conference, suggests that higher sea temperatures could kill off vast ecosystems and half of the fish living there.  The loss of the Coral Triangle, which accounts for one third of the planet’s coral reefs, would clearly be devastating, as would the elimination of so many peoples only means for survival.

And while here in the U.S. compromises are already being made over the proposed climate bill, it seems Indonesia is not waiting around.  The country has officially launched plans for a marine park in the Coral Triangle, which aims to protect the biologically diverse area and maintain sustainable fisheries.  Let’s hope we step up our game here in the U.S., because so far our target for emissions reductions by 2020 (tentatively 17%) doesn’t come close enough to the WWF’s recommended target of 25 - 40% needed to curb rising ocean temperatures.  Fight on!

Photo: prilfish’s flickr photostream (creative commons)