7 SAUDI G20/S20
SECURING A FUTURE FOR THE WORLD’S CORAL REEFS
The G20 launches a KAUST-inspired coral reef protection initiative
CARLOS DUARTE Distinguished Professor of Marine Science and Tarek Ahmed Juffali Research Chair in Red Sea Ecology
THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA IS COMMITTED TO THE CONSERVATION OF CORAL REEFS AND LEARNING FROM THE RESILIENCE OF CORAL IN THE RED SEA TO BE ABLE TO SHARE WHAT WE KNOW WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD – BUT WE CAN’T DO THAT ALONE.
Coral reef protection has secured a leading position as one of the final policy recommendations in the G20 Communiqué for 2020. As a result, a new global coral reef protection initiative will now be launched under the leadership of Saudi Arabia, with the support and cooperation of G20 nations. KAUST has been chosen as the central node for the new initiative, leveraging the university’s cutting-edge infrastructure, expertise in coral reefs and access to nearby coral ecosystems. At the November 2020 G20 Leaders’ Summit in Riyadh, the world’s largest economies committed to increasing coral reef recovery and conserving vulnerable marine habitats through the launch of the Global Coral Reef R&D Accelerator Platform. The platform is designed to accelerate international research and development in improving the survival, conservation, resilience, adaptation and restoration of coral reefs. The new partnership will help to ensure future generations continue to experience healthy reefs, with the aim of increasing global coral reef recovery by 10%. The initiative comes in recognition of the critical role marine ecosystems play in nature and human society. The G20 is a major custodian of warm-water and cold-water coral reefs, with about half of the world’s tropical reefs located in the economic exclusive zones of G20 members. Coral reefs are among the most valuable ecosystems on earth, harboring incredible biodiversity. However, human activity and climate change endanger the survival of coral reefs, on which 25-50% of the world’s marine life depends. Without concrete action, it is estimated that a significant share of coral reefs are at risk. The new Global Coral Reef R&D Accelerator Platform will increase support for and complement existing national, regional and international initiatives that are currently work-
