ENG Q3 Name: Date:

Chasing Coral SAVING THE PLANET

Rainforests of the sea, coral reefs are home to millions of species, acting as majestic
underwater ecosystems vital to oceanic life—and ultimately, human survival. Despite their
biodiversity, they remain vulnerable to coral bleaching.

TASK: Answer the following questions while watching the film.

1. If we had no oceans, life would cease to exist. Why is the state of our oceans
hard to convey to the general public?

2. Explain the phenomenon of coral bleaching.

3. In the last 30 years, we have lost 50 per cent of the world’s corals. Did you know what coral bleaching was
before watching the film? Why or why not?

4. How are coral reefs like a city? Compare the two using a Venn diagram. Why do coral reefs matter?

5. What are the implications of coral bleaching at a local, regional and global level?

6. What is the correlation between ocean warming and CO2 emissions?

7. Explain why some corals exhibit a dazzling colourful display, instead of turning white, when they suffer coral
bleaching. (further information: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/05/200521112619.htm)

8. Our oceans are warming up to the point where species are at the brink of extinction. What is going to
happen to coral reefs in the future?
ENG Q3 Name: Date:
Chasing Coral SAVING THE PLANET

TASK - after viewing: Discuss the following questions together with a “It’s not too late for coral reefs and
partner. indeed other ecosystems that are
facing challenges from climate
1. What needs to change with government policies and consumer change. It’s still possible to reduce
habits to fix the problem? the rate at which the climate is
changing. And that’s within our
power today.’’ Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg
2. Why does society stay oblivious to major catastrophic events like
coral bleaching? Which other examples show our obliviousness?

3. How are the time-lapse photos from “Chasing Coral” so historically important? What does time-lapse
photography provide to the project that two single framed photos cannot show? What role do the media
play in the climate change issue?

4. Jot down three ideas for discussion, or questions that the film raised in your mind.

Learn more:
Imagine you are a member in the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and it is your
responsibility to prepare vulnerable communities (Caribbean, Australia, South East Asia, etc.) for
a changing climate. Your task is to inform the general public about the threats and suggest ways to
reduce global communities’ vulnerability so that social, economic and environmental risks are
minimized.

TASK: Gather and evaluate more data on global climate change and coral bleaching as well as the main threats to
coral reefs. Analyse the charts and statistics below. What will climate change mean for global communities?
Suggest ways to tackle the problems. Prepare a 5-minute presentation.

Source: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coral_bleach.html (last access: 03/09/2020)

ENG Q3 Name: Date:
Chasing Coral SAVING THE PLANET

https://bit.ly/32U5frC
Help needed?
Cf. Reader: Analysing
graphs, charts and tables
(pp. 23-27)

Source: https://www.climatecentral.org/news/climate-change-devastating-great-barrier-reef--20295 (last access: 03/09/2020)

Source: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coral-pollution.html (last access: 03/09/2020)

Find out more about threats to coral reefs and possible solutions:
https://wwf.panda. https://www.morgen https://edition.cnn.c
org/our_work/our_f -filament.de/worlds- om/2019/06/13/wo
ocus/oceans_practi largest-3d-printed- rld/land-coral-farm-
ce/coasts/coral_ree coral-reef-now- reefs-climate-
fs/ (last access: resides-in-the- change-scli-
03/09/2020) maldives/ (last intl/index.html (last
access: 03/09/2020) access: 03/09/2020)