My understanding is that this is very much in doubt. According to the IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5 °C [1],
> The risks of climate-induced impacts are projected to be higher at 2°C than those at global warming of 1.5°C (high confidence). Coral reefs, for example, are projected to decline by a further 70–90% at 1.5°C (high confidence) with larger losses (>99%) at 2°C (very high confidence). The risk of irreversible loss of many marine and coastal ecosystems increases with global warming, especially at 2°C or more (high confidence).
Coral reefs are so old, and have survived so many changes, because they are adaptable to many different environmental conditions, including temperature. The threat to them, as I understand it, is that global warming will happen so quickly that they will be unable to adapt by migrating in latitude or evolving defenses.
[1] https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/sites/2/2019/05/SR15...
What we are doing to the environment is catastrophic, but it is not the hardest thing it has had to endure.
Just as an example, despite nearly world wide bleaching my house reef is expanding by over 2 meters a year and the pace is accelerating.
Some species thrive as others die, those that can adapt will take the place of the ones that can't. That doesn't mean that we should stop trying to undo the damage we have already done, but I try to avoid the defeatist attitude that many environmentalists seem to pushing these days.
Do you have much familiarity with this? I assume it's where they build some sort of a frame and then attach small pieces of living coral to it to start a new reef?
A comment below says: "The threat to them, as I understand it, is that global warming will happen so quickly that they will be unable to adapt by migrating in latitude or evolving defenses."
I was watching a documentary the other day where environmentalists on some remote island were doing this and it seemed to be working, but they were doing all the construction themselves and clearly didn't know what they were doing. Is this something that could be mass-industrialized (the structures) with crowd sourced labor to do the laborious coral attachment part?
This allows us to kill two birds with one stone by recycling waste products and growing coral.
It is difficult to grow coral outside of the ocean, so the transplantation is very laborious. However this is where volunteer divers can be a huge assistance. The work is safe and easy, just time consuming.
With proper specialized equipment (say, a budget of $10 million), what kind of an improvement change could be achieved in your opinion?
I don't know where you are located, but PADI open water course outside of the US is about $200 and takes 3-4 days.
https://www.padi.com/help/scuba-certification-faq
Its a skill they will have for life and it will be something you will talk about for years.
The only downside is that once you start diving all of your vacations become diving trips.
As far as resources are concerned, go to a used book store and pick up tropical reef animal (coral are animals) identification books. They are great coffee table reading and are effectively real life Pokedexes.
Life is adaptable, and while that does not excuse our behavior it does give me hope for the future of our reefs.
Reefs are the oldest ecosystems on the planet, they will survive the damage we are doing to the planet. Our species however may not.
If you are at all interested in coral conservation there are several organizations that organize reef cleanup, ghost net removal, and coral farming projects. I highly encourage you to consider volunteering some of your time during your next vacation. It's a rewarding activity that will also have you working in some of the most beautiful locations in the world.