The Nice Climate Summit 2024 took place on September 26 and 27 at the Palais de la Méditerranée in Nice, bringing together experts from around the world to discuss pressing climate issues. One of the key topics was the preservation of coral reefs, which was the focus of the panel discussion titled “The Battle for Coral.” Jeimila Donty, founder of Koraï, proudly represented her commitment to marine regeneration during this important conversation.

Alongside Paola Furla, a specialist in coral symbiosis from the University of Côte d’Azur, and Didier Zoccola, founder of the World Coral Conservatory at the Monaco Scientific Center, Jeimila Donty stressed the urgency of concrete actions to protect coral reefs, which are essential to marine biodiversity and climate regulation. Moderated by Thierry Apparu, the panel highlighted scientific solutions and collaborative projects that can save these endangered ecosystems, emphasizing the need for a multi-stakeholder approach that brings together the private sector, public authorities, and civil society.

One of the key takeaways from the panel is that coral reefs, often overlooked by the general public, are closely related to humans, sharing 58% of their genetic makeup with us. More importantly, the health of coral reefs is crucial for both humans and marine biodiversity: they provide shelter for 25% of marine life and support the livelihoods of 500 million people worldwide. However, coral reefs are under severe threat, suffering from the impacts of climate change, pollution, ocean acidification, and human pressures such as mass tourism and overfishing.

To halt this major biodiversity loss—50% of the world’s coral has already disappeared, and rising temperatures further threaten its survival—science is a vital ally. The World Coral Conservatory is creating a genetic bank of coral species to one day replant climate-resilient corals. The Tara Foundation supports research to deepen our understanding of corals, and Koraï applies scientific methods to ensure the positive impact of its restoration projects.

However, it is the multilateral cooperation between the private sector, public authorities, and local communities that will drive effective and lasting solutions to this climate emergency. At Koraï, we combine conservation and business by restoring coral reefs in Madagascar through biodiversity contribution programs. “It is essential for economic actors to recognize their dependence on marine ecosystems and incorporate biodiversity into their business models. This is not an act of philanthropy, but a necessity for the sustainability of their operations,” Jeimila Donty emphasized. Companies provide the funding, the public sector creates enabling legislation, and civil society engages—forming a winning combination!

As Olivier Poivre d’Arvor aptly summarized: “Stop the blublublue, we expect concrete actions at UNOC 2024.” His words rang out as a call for collective responsibility because the time for grand statements is over; it’s time for action.

The next major milestone for the international community will be UNOC 2025, the United Nations Ocean Conference to be held in Nice. This much-anticipated event could be the catalyst needed to turn commitments into concrete actions. Until then, Koraï will continue to play a pioneering role in restoring coral reefs in the Western Indian Ocean, with the mission to protect these marine treasures for future generations.