Can we save the world's coral?

From The Climate Question by BBC World Service

May 31, 2026 · 26 min

About this episode

This episode discusses the threats to coral reefs from climate change and explores potential solutions.

Corals protect humans and sustain 25% of all marine life. But reefs are under threat from climate change, and mass bleaching events mean that some scientists estimate they could disappear by 2100. In this episode, Graihagh Jackson is joined by BBC CrowdScience presenter, Caroline Steel. We go to Puerto Rico to see how self-duplicating, carnivorous coral could be the solution. We also speak to the scientist who helped discover what was causing coral bleaching in the first place - back when climate change was commonly denied. This programme was first broadcast in 2024. Guests: Dr Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, Professor of Marine Studies at the University of Queensland in Brisbane Dr Stacey Williams, Executive Director at the Institute for Socio Ecological Research Picture: Prickly alcyonarian - Dendronephthya sp. Orange red colored soft coral. Credit: ultramarinfoto via Getty. Presenters: Graihagh Jackson and Caroline Steel Producer: Octavia Woodward Production co-ordinator: Brenda Brown Editor: Simon Watts Sound Engineer: Tom Brignell Got a climate question you’d like answered? E-mail the team: theclimatequestion@bbc.com

People in this episode

Hosts: Graihagh Jackson, Caroline Steel

Guests: Dr Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, Dr Stacey Williams

Topics covered

coral reefs
climate change
marine life
coral bleaching
scientific research

Keywords

coral
climate change
marine studies
bleaching
Puerto Rico

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of Queensland, Institute for Socio Ecological Research

Places: Puerto Rico