The potential for coral bleaching to affect long-term destination sustainability

This chapter discusses a range of issues related to the long-term sustainability of coral reef destinations that have been, or are likely to be, affected by coral bleaching. The Brundtland Report (1987, p. 18) stated that “humanity has the ability to make development sustainable to ensure that it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Achieving this aspirational level of sustainability is becoming increasingly difficult in an era where global temperatures are rising rapidly and where global actions to reduce warming continue to be subject to political agendas that place domestic economic growth and other considerations ahead of global climate change mitigation. One impact of climate change is increased warming of oceans, which in turn has created ideal conditions for coral bleaching.