Caribbean coral reefs on verge of collapse

This is definitely not good news. It's bad news for the environment and it's bad news for everyone who depends on the reefs for business. The culprit? It's the usual problem of over fishing, pollution and climate change.

Why are the right wingers unable to see even the economic problems this creates? Just setting aside the environmental issues, the economic aspects are enormous. The Guardian:

Caribbean coral reefs – which make up one of the world's most colourful, vivid and productive ecosystems – are on the verge of collapse, with less than 10% of the reef area showing live coral cover.

With so little growth left, the reefs are in danger of utter devastation unless urgent action is taken, conservationists warned. They said the drastic loss was the result of severe environmental problems, including over-exploitation, pollution from agricultural run-off and other sources, and climate change.

The decline of the reefs has been rapid: in the 1970s, more than 50% showed live coral cover, compared with 8% in the newly completed survey. The scientists who carried it out warned there was no sign of the rate of coral death slowing.

As this recent Harvard Business Review article says, you cannot deny climate change and be pro-business.