The Great Barrier Reef off the northeast coast of Australia in the Coral Sea is the largest coral reef on earth. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1981 and is also considered one of the seven wonders of nature. The existence of the Great Barrier Reef and its biodiversity is severely threatened by man-made global warming and the resulting ocean acidification. Between 1985 and 2012, the coral cover went back; another decrease is likely due to unlimited carbon dioxide emissions. If coral reefs, such as the Great Barrier Reef, are to continue to exist in the future, very effective climate protection measures are needed to quickly combat global warming.