The window to save the world’s “underwater gardens” is closing faster than previously feared. Jason Momoa—actor, filmmaker, and United Nations Environmental Program Advocate for Life Below Water—is sounding a loud alarm for immediate, large-scale coral reef conservation.

In a stirring recent op-ed, Momoa warns that the global community must move beyond symbolic gestures and commit real capital to prevent a biological collapse of the oceans.

The stakes are binary: survival or extinction. Data from NOAA reveals that Earth has just emerged from the most expansive coral-bleaching event ever recorded, a crisis that persisted for 33 consecutive months into 2025.

The projections are grim. Scientists warn that a global temperature increase of just 1.5 degrees Celsius could result in the loss of up to 90% of all coral reefs. According to Momoa, this tipping point isn’t a distant threat—it is effectively upon us.

The Limits of Regulation: Why Banning Sunscreen Isn’t Enough

Hawai’i has long been a pioneer in marine protection, notably becoming one of the first jurisdictions to outlaw chemical-based sunscreens. This shift encouraged the adoption of mineral-based options and other organic alternatives.

However, Momoa argues that while removing toxic chemicals is a necessary step, it is not a cure. Criminalizing a single pollutant cannot offset the systemic devastation caused by rising oceanic temperatures and acidification.

If we only focus on the small things, do we risk ignoring the systemic collapse of the entire ecosystem?

Kuleana: A Cultural Blueprint for Marine Stewardship

For Momoa, the drive to protect the ocean is deeply personal and rooted in his heritage. He speaks of kuleana—a Hawaiian concept denoting a reciprocal responsibility to the land and sea passed down through generations.

In indigenous stories, coral is viewed not as a resource, but as an ancestor. This perspective transforms coral reef conservation from a scientific necessity into a moral and cultural obligation.

Momoa, who has previously led relief efforts during catastrophic flooding in Hawai’i, emphasizes that this sense of stewardship is common across all coastal and island nations.

The Economics of Ocean Survival

Hope, Momoa suggests, is found in the intersection of science and finance. During his time in French Polynesia, he witnessed a powerful truth: when local communities are given the tools and funding, they restore their reefs with incredible efficiency.

Through his collaboration with the UN Environment Programme and the Global Fund for Coral Reefs, Momoa has seen how targeted investment can create a “blue economy.” This involves helping people earn a living without destroying nature, boosting the conservation of fragile ecosystems, and ensuring sustainable rebuilding after extreme weather events.

The path forward involves a coordinated global effort. Momoa points to new scientific data and a series of high-level summits—including gatherings in Kenya, New Zealand, and the Global Coral Reef Summit—as catalysts for change.

But attention without action is meaningless. Momoa’s call to action is direct: reduce plastic pollution, shrink carbon footprints, protect critical reef species, and invest in reef-positive businesses.

While some of the world’s wealthiest individuals, like Jeff Bezos, make headlines by sailing superyachts to save sharks, Momoa argues that the real solution lies in a collective, systemic shift in how humanity interacts with the water.

If we are all connected to the ocean, what happens to the reefs eventually happens to us?