Corals are uniquely sensitive to climate change and the society has become increasingly alarmed at the extent to which elevated ocean temperatures are killing corals (through a process known as coral bleaching that is often associated with coral disease) and devastating highly biodiverse and economically valuable coral reef ecosystems.

We are concerned that if much greater efforts to reduce anthropogenic carbon emissions though the use of fossil fuels the next few decades will see the loss of thriving coral reefs as we have known them from most ocean areas, The conclusions of this statement are:

Runcorn WI, and its supporters call upon the British Government to commit to limiting atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations to no more than 450 ppm in the short-term, and reducing them to 350ppm in the long-term.

This should keep average global temperature increase to less than 2°C (or 3.6oF) in the short-term, and less than 1.5 deg C (or 2.7 deg F) in the long-term, relative to the pre-industrial period. This would prevent global collapse of coral reef ecosystems and allow coral reefs to survive in perpetuity.

If you support this call, please sign this petition.