...99 percent confident that the world really was getting warmer and that there was a high degree of probability that it was due to human-made greenhouse gases.
James HansenRead
Coral reefs, the rain forest of the ocean, are home for one-third of the species of the sea. Coral reefs are under stress for several reasons, including warming of the ocean, but especially because of ocean acidification, a direct effect of added carbon dioxide. Ocean life dependent on carbonate shells and skeletons is threatened by dissolution as the ocean becomes more acid.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Coral reefs are crucial ecosystems facing threats from climate change and ocean acidification.
James Hansen highlights the significance of coral reefs as vital ecosystems that support a vast array of marine life. He underscores the urgent threats they face, primarily due to ocean warming and acidification caused by increased carbon dioxide levels, which jeopardize the diverse species that rely on these fragile habitats for survival.
Themes
Coral ReefsOceanEnvironmentClimate ChangeBiodiversity
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about environmental conservation, one might reference Hanson's quote to emphasize the importance of protecting marine ecosystems.
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'Goals' and 'caps' on carbon emissions are practically worthless, if coal emissions continue, because of the exceedingly long lifetime of carbon dioxide in the air.
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On a per capita basis, Britain is responsible for more of the carbon dioxide now in the atmosphere than any other nation on Earth because it has been burning it from the dawn of the Industrial Revolution.
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