Corals are among the most sensitive organisms to rising ocean temperature, with even the slightest temperature increase impacting the delicate relationship between corals and their symbiotic algae known as zooxanthellae. When we burn fossil fuels like oil and gas, we release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which builds up and acts as a heat-trapping blanket, warming the planet. Some of this heat is absorbed by the ocean. As water temperatures rise, corals become stressed and expel the tiny zooxanthellae that provide them with food. This process makes corals appear "bleached," as seen in this photo from National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. Over time, these bleached corals can die. It's up to all of us to do our part to protect corals and the ecosystems that depend on them from warming temperatures. By working with our communities to reduce the amount of fossil fuels we use, we can all come together to protect the future health of coral reefs.