An editorial in the Economist looks at measures that could be used to save coral reefs around the world, warning that “thanks to human activity, corals face the most complex concoction of conditions they have yet had to deal with”. It says: “Measures to mitigate climate change are needed regardless of coral, but even if the world’s great powers were to put their shoulder to the problem, global warming would not be brought to a swift halt. Coral systems must adapt if they are to survive, and governments in countries with reefs can help them do so.” In addition to mitigating climate change, the editorial suggests “setting up marine protected areas”, “identifying the hardiest types [of coral] and encouraging them to grow in new spots”, and even “shading reefs using a polymer film as a sunscreen to cool them” and “selective breeding and brightening the clouds in the sky above…so that they deflect more of the sun’s energy”. While “these measures may sound extreme”, concludes the Economist, “people need to get used to thinking big”: “Dealing with the problems caused by climate change will call for some radical ideas.”

Elsewhere, the Guardian reports on a new study which finds that coral cover around some of the most popular tourist islands on the Great Barrier Reef has dropped by almost half in the last 18 years.