Frederico Guanais at the Health Division of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) explains why we need to leverage synergies across policy domains to promote both environmental sustainability and public health.

A group of leading marine scientists led by Prof. Ove Hoegh-Guldberg have collaborated to publish a science-policy paper explaining the urgent need for effective “coral reef diplomacy” and international coordination to secure the future of the coral reefs of the Gulf of Aqaba in the Northern Red Sea. This paper explains how these unique reefs are threatened by both a changing climate and other human-induced environmental damage, and why urgent action is needed to ensure their sustainable development and to protect the livelihoods of millions of people.