Dubbed the 'Amazon of the seas' 🌊🐠, the Coral Triangle—a marine biodiversity hotspot spanning Indonesia, Malaysia, and five other Indo-Pacific regions—faces growing risks from fossil fuel expansion, a new report reveals. With over 100 active offshore oil and gas blocks and 450 more under exploration, scientists warn up to 16% of this vital ecosystem could soon be compromised. 🚢💔
Why This Matters
Home to 75% of the world's coral species and critical marine life like whales and turtles 🐋🐢, the Coral Triangle supports 120 million people who rely on fishing and coastal resources. Satellite data shows 793 oil slicks since 2020, with spills covering an area nearly the size of the Solomon Islands. 😱
Climate Crossroads
The report urges leaders to:
🚫 Halt industrial activities in protected zones
💡 Skip LNG as a 'transition fuel'
🛡️ Designate the Triangle a 'sensitive sea area'
This comes as the UN pushes its 30×30 biodiversity targets to protect marine ecosystems by 2030. 🌍📉
