Even Pokemons are affected by climate change.
An RPG game entitled Pokemon Sword and Shield has been released on Friday, Nov. 15. Players noticed a few climate-related angles in the game - one of them is a bleached Corsola (literally, the coral pokemon has been bleached to death).
Corsola's original physical appearance and personality
Corsola is coral pokemon- "it was was a delightful, cheerful, pink Water and Rock-type Pokémon." This character was introduced in the Pokémon Gold and Silver games.
However, in the new Pokemon games, Corsola is now bleached and sad pokemon. The pokedex (in-game encyclopedia of Pokémon characters) explained, "Sudden climate change wiped out this ancient kind of Corsola."
Millenials' Reaction
Avid pokemon fans shared thoughts on Twitter. Most of them saying climate change is real, and it doesn't only affect us, but also the Pokemon universe.
Apparently, the Pokemon's update aims to raise awareness not only for its fans but for the people around the world to take action to save the planet for the next generation. If you've been inspired after reading this report, and want to make a change to save coral reefs, better check out U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association website. On this page, you will learn more about simple ways to protect corals and sea.
What is Coral Bleaching?
Coral bleaching is one of the effects of climate change. In this event, the water in the ocean becomes warmer, thus, causing stress to corals. Apart from the sudden changes in the temperature, light, and nutrients expel the symbiotic algae living in corals' tissues, turning corals into completely white.
Ocean Health Index reported that about 60% of reefs have been seriously damaged, 75% of reefs are threatened. This event is alarming, and it is not easy to repopulate and replace dead corals because healthy corals only grow one to five centimeters per year, according to a source. The Great Barrier Reef is millions of years old, and it is the largest coral reef. Unfortunately, about one-third of its coral died in 2018 because of bleaching events.
"These events are coming more frequently than the coral can recover," said by Mark Eakin of NOAA's Coral Reef Watch.
In a previous report, the Federal Government of Australia released $18 million to fund six new projects, which aim to help save the Great Barrier Reef. $18 million seem large budget in the eyes of many people, But for Australian environment minister Josh Frydenberg, this budget is too small for making efforts to save the reefs.
"It's great, however, it's all a bit little too late," he said in an SBS report.