Scientists now have found, with evidence, that the average global temperature has been increasing at a visible pace, and the side effects of global warming influence not just human beings but many other creatures that are susceptible to temperature. As the biggest carbon reservoir on earth, the ocean is far more vulnerable to temperature rises due to its ability to absorb excessive heat, which puts sensitive animals in danger at those temperatures. Coral reefs are a major victim of this rising temperature; we need to pay attention to this severe issue as coral reefs are not only a beautiful landscape for human beings to enjoy, but also a crucial shelter for fish to survive. As many developing coastal countries depend on coral reefs for their tourism and fishing incomes, better legislation should be enforced to resolve this issue. 

The coral reef community, a crucial component of the ocean system, is at risk due to the overexploitation of humans. Coral reefs, as the keystone species and the shelter for several marine species, are non-removable components of the marine ecosystem. The increasing number of days with extreme weather and higher average ocean temperatures leads to a significant decrease in the coral reef population in many popular areas, especially the Caribbean Sea and Southeast Asia. Studies show that from the 1950s to now, more than 50% of the coral reefs were damaged due to global warming. Such devastating records harm both the local economy and the ocean ecosystem as well. 

Anthropogenic activities are the major causes of coral bleaching. The most straightforward cause for coral bleaching is the rising annual average temperature and the prolonged periods of heat during the summer. Studies show that during the 2005 prolonged periods of heat, more than 80% of coral reefs were affected by bleaching, and 40% died during this period. This unusual heat did not give the reef enough time to self-restore itself to its full capacity.

Water pollution is an easily ignored issue for coral reef survival. Water pollution is not limited to contaminated sewage but also includes runoff and microplastic contamination. Studies have shown that coral reefs act as microplastic sinks that take approximately 10% of the microplastic within the shallow area due to the adhesion and ingestion attributes of the reefs. The increasing microplastic level reduces the longevity and endurance of the reef as well as its ability to absorb nutrients, chronically killing these reefs. Adding to the MP pollution is the sewage linkage that contains toxic heavy metals and pollutants. These wasteful materials deteriorate the coral ecosystem and disrupt a healthy state.
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Without further conservation actions, coral reefs would eventually become extinct and disturb the balancing marine ecosystem. Actions are needed from the whole world to face the same enemy: global warming.