The Ocean Is Heating Up, But So Are We

Climate Hope
Jul 18, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Jul 20, 2025

By @Corgi4ClimateJustice for ClimateHope.us

Summer check-in, hoomans!

The sun is shining, the sand is toasty, and I’ve been soaking in those golden morning rays like a good solar-powered activist.

But under all the sunshine and waves, something serious is stirring:The ocean is running a fever.

And this little corgi has some big updates.

Coral Bleaching Is Global And Personal

Marine heatwaves are sweeping the planet. Scientists say we’re in the middle of the fourth global coral bleaching event, with over 84% of reefs affected including those in the Philippines and Florida Keys.

When coral turns ghost-white, it means life is being drained from one of Earth’s richest ecosystems. And it’s not just bad news for fish. Coral reefs protect coastlines, feed communities and support entire cultures.

It’s okay to grieve. But also: don’t look away. Because something amazing is happening alongside the crisis.

There's a Network of Hope Beneath the Waves

Thanks to Mission Blue, fragile ocean ecosystems around the world are being declared Hope Spots, places with incredible biodiversity and community-led protection efforts.

🇺🇸 In the United States:

This year, Mission Blue added the Florida Keys and Ten Thousand Islands as a Hope Spot too, home to coral gardens, mangroves, manatees and communities protecting it all from the frontlines.

🇵🇭 In the Philippines:

The Verde Island Passage (VIP) — sometimes called the “Amazon of the ocean” — is one of the most important marine zones on Earth. It’s also a Hope Spot where young divers, fishers and local leaders are working together to protect the reefs.

Not just VIP. Very Important Planet.

Dive in with Mission Blue!

These aren’t just pretty places. They’re living proof of what’s still worth fighting for.

On Land, Wetlands Are Rising Too

In the Pacific Northwest, something beautiful just happened:15,000 acres of the Klamath Basin wetlands are being restored.

But this isn’t just a win for salmon and water birds. It’s the result of decades of organizing by the Yurok, Karuk, and Klamath Tribes, whose cultural survival is tied to this landscape.

“We’re not just restoring land — we’re restoring relationships.”

Climate justice isn’t just science. It’s story. And it’s rooted in Indigenous leadership.

Urgency + Optimism = Power

NASA climate scientist Gavin Schmidt said it best:

“We need to face the future with both urgency and optimism.”

Read the full interview

This corgi agrees. Yes, it’s hot. Yes, it’s heavy. But we are not helpless.

Look around: people are dancing, planting, restoring and rising.

And that’s where the real temperature shift begins.

What’s Next: All Eyes on Brazil

This November, world leaders will gather in the Amazon for COP30 — a global climate summit that could shape policy for years to come.

Hosted in Belém, Brazil, COP30 will put frontline ecosystems like the Amazon and critical ocean regions directly in the spotlight. It’s a chance for governments to commit not just in words, but in resources to protecting biodiversity, scaling up renewable energy, and addressing loss and damage in vulnerable countries.