The International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), in partnership with the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR) and the High-Level Climate Champions (HLCC), has launched the Coral Reef Breakthrough. The launch took place during the 37th ICRI General Meeting in 2023. This significant initiative aims to unite state and non-state actors in a concerted effort to conserve, protect, and restore coral reefs which are crucial to the future of humanity.
Objective and Strategy of Coral Reef Breakthrough
The primary goal of the Coral Reef Breakthrough initiative is to safeguard at least 125,000 km2 of shallow-water tropical coral reefs using an estimated investment of USD 12 billion. This action is planned to bolster the resilience of over half a billion people globally by 2030. The strategy of this initiative is based on four different but interrelated action points.
Action Point 1: Mitigation of Local Loss Drivers
The first action point consists of mitigating local drivers of loss. These include land-based sources of pollution, destructive coastal development, and overfishing. By managing these factors, the initiative targets to reduce the damage inflicted on the coral reefs.
Action Point 2: Expanding Protected Coral Reef Areas
The second action point seeks to double the area of coral reefs under effective protection. It involves aligning with and transcending global coastal protection targets, including the 30by30 initiative – a global effort to protect 30% of the Earth’s land and ocean area by 2030.
Action Point 3: Promotion of Innovative Solutions
The third action point involves assisting in the development and implementation of innovative solutions. These climate-smart designs are aimed at supporting coral reef adaptation to impact 30% of degraded reefs by 2030.
Action Point 4: Securing Investments for Ecosystem Conservation
The final action point aims to secure investments of at least USD 12 billion by 2030. These funds, sourced from public and private entities, are crucial for the conservation and restoration of these essential ecosystems.
The Role of International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI)
ICRI is a global partnership that has been working tirelessly to preserve coral reefs and related ecosystems around the world. Founded in 1994, it now has more than 101 members, including 45 countries. ICRI’s role is instrumental in introducing and implementing initiatives like the Coral Reef Breakthrough.
Contribution of High-Level Climate Champions (HLCC)
The HLCC, appointed by the United Nations, facilitates engagement of non-state actors like businesses, cities, regions, and investors. Their work significantly supports the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change and contributes to global coral reef conservation.
Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR): A Key Player
The GFCR is an important tool in the battle against coral reef destruction. As a blended finance instrument, it provides grant funding as well as private capital for sustainable interventions to save coral reefs and the communities that rely on them. Nations, UN agencies, philanthropies, private investors, and organisations have joined the GFCR Coalition to deliver on ecological, social and economic resilience.
UPSC Civil Services Examination’s Focus on Coral Reefs
The UPSC Civil Services Examination places significant emphasis on the knowledge and understanding of coral reefs, their status, conservation needs, and associated technology, reflected in previous years’ questions. This includes questions about the ‘Biorock technology’ used for restoration of damaged coral reefs, location of the world’s coral reefs, and the presence of coral reefs in specific areas like the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Gulf of Kachchh, Gulf of Mannar, and Sunderbans.
Not only does this highlight the importance of these ecosystems in environmental education, but it also underscores their role in the broader context of global warming and climate change.