ABSTRACT
SUMMARY: Over the past few centuries, human population has expanded to reach an unprecedented size. It is believed that industrialization is rapidly changing the climate system on a planetary scale with serious ecological consequences. Coral reefs are particularly vulnerable to global warming as temperature and other climate-related variables are important factors controlling the distribution, structure and function of these ecosystems. In view of the capital importance of these reefs for human societies, we will review how global warming is affecting coral reef ecosystem function and resilience. We are particularly interested in analyzing what has changed in our societies compared to ancient human groups, how these changes are jeopardizing the future of coral reefs and to what extent coral reefs will be able to respond to climate change. The controversial issue of artificial reef restoration will also be discussed in the context of imminent coral reef decline. The chapter shall conclude by describing and listing the wide variety of economic goods and services that coral reefs provide to human societies, and discussing why we cannot afford to loose coral reefs and what we should do to prevent and/or slow down coral reef decline.
