Why hurricane flooding is about to get even more dangerous in Florida – National Geographic

Report on Coral Reef Degradation and its Impact on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Florida

1.0 Executive Summary

• This report analyzes the critical role of Florida’s coral reefs in providing natural coastal protection against climate-related hazards such as storm surges and wave action.
• It assesses the implications of coral reef decline in the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a particular focus on climate action, marine life, and community resilience.
• Findings indicate that the degradation of these vital ecosystems, driven by climate change, directly undermines progress toward several key SDGs by increasing the vulnerability of coastal populations and infrastructure.

2.0 The Role of Coral Reefs in Coastal Resilience and Sustainable Communities (SDG 11)

• Florida’s 350-mile Coral Reef system functions as a critical natural infrastructure, protecting populous coastal cities including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Key West.
• This protective function is essential for achieving SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), which aims to make human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
• According to expert analysis, the hard structure of coral reefs acts as a natural wave breaker, reducing wave energy by up to 97%. This significantly mitigates the inland propagation of storm surges, thereby protecting lives and property.

3.0 Climate Change, Marine Ecosystems, and the Impact on SDG 13 and SDG 14

• The primary driver of coral reef decline is human-caused climate change, which presents a direct challenge to the objectives of SDG 13 (Climate Action).
• The erosion and breakdown of the reef structure constitute a severe threat to marine biodiversity and ecosystem health, directly impacting SDG 14 (Life Below Water).
• As noted by Thomas Wahl, an associate professor at the University of Central Florida, any decline in coral reefs leads to altered wave propagation and energy dissipation, increasing coastal vulnerability.
• The loss of reef height diminishes the effectiveness of this natural barrier, allowing more destructive wave energy to reach the coastline.

4.0 Consequences for Human Health and Terrestrial Ecosystems (SDG 3 and SDG 15)

1. Increased Erosion and Flooding: The degradation of coral reefs leads to accelerated coastal erosion and more severe flood impacts from extreme weather events, compromising the integrity of coastal land and affecting SDG 15 (Life on Land).
2. Threats to Human Safety: Given that approximately 90% of hurricane-related fatalities are due to drowning in storm surges, the protective capacity of reefs is a critical component of public safety, aligning with the aims of SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).
3. Compounded Risk: The dual phenomena of increasingly intense hurricanes and the simultaneous destruction of the natural defenses that mitigate them create a dangerous combination, heightening the risk to Florida’s coastal communities.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  This is the most central SDG to the article. The entire discussion revolves around the health and decline of Florida’s coral reefs, which are critical marine and coastal ecosystems. The article explicitly states, “If there isn’t continued healthy coral growing on the top of these reefs, we see erosion, and the reef starts to break down.”

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  The article directly links the degradation of coral reefs and the increasing threat of storms to climate change. It states, “Human-caused climate change is both killing the reefs and increasing the intensity of hurricanes—a dangerous combination,” connecting the issue to the broader need for climate action and adaptation.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article highlights the crucial role of coral reefs in protecting coastal communities. It mentions that the reef “protects populous cities like Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and Key West” from storm surges, flooding, and coastal erosion. The decline of these reefs directly threatens the safety and resilience of these human settlements.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans.

   The article’s focus on the “decline in coral reefs” and the need for “continued healthy coral growing” to prevent the reef from breaking down directly aligns with the goal of protecting and restoring this vital coastal ecosystem.

2. Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.

   The article describes coral reefs as a natural defense mechanism that strengthens resilience against climate-related hazards. It explains how reefs “act like a natural wave breaker” and that their decline leads to “more flood impacts from extreme events,” emphasizing their role in climate adaptation for coastal areas.

3. Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses… caused by disasters, including water-related disasters…

   The article directly addresses this target by explaining how healthy reefs mitigate the impact of water-related disasters (hurricanes and storm surges). It mentions the risk of “property damage and death” and cites a statistic that “90 percent of deaths from hurricanes are caused by drowning in storm surge and floodwaters,” which healthy reefs help prevent.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for Target 14.2 (Implied): The article implies that the health and physical structure of the reef are key indicators. Progress could be measured by monitoring the “height of that natural barrier” and the extent of “healthy coral growing” versus reef erosion.
• Indicator for Target 13.1 (Mentioned): The article provides a direct metric for the resilience provided by reefs. An indicator is the percentage of wave energy reduction, which the article quantifies as “up to 97 percent.” This measures the effectiveness of the natural barrier in mitigating storm energy.
• Indicators for Target 11.5 (Mentioned): The article points to several indicators for measuring the impact of disasters on communities. These include the number of deaths from storm surge (citing the “90 percent” statistic), the extent of “property damage,” and the frequency/severity of “coastal erosion” and “flooding during storms.”

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: nationalgeographic.com