The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper Season 2 Episode 12 Warning To The World: Australia's Climate Disasters

CNN Senior International Correspondent Ivan Watson takes a sweeping look at the numerous natural disasters plaguing Australia, and how its changing climate could be a cautionary tale for countries across the globe.

On Watson's journey off the coast of Australia, he learns about the death and destruction being caused by human activity both on land and under the water. Apocalyptic forest fires, storms and floods exacerbated by climate change at an unprecedented scale are threatening communities and Australia's most iconic species. In the Great Barrier Reef, a global record-breaking marine heat wave is causing the temperature of the water to rise, resulting in coral bleaching and dying. Watson speaks with the people trying to reverse the damage and prepare for the future.

"Australia is a country- a continent- on the front lines of climate change, with entire communities and eco-systems threatened by increasingly unpredictable natural disasters," says Watson. "On this journey, I was so lucky to see amazing natural treasures worth fighting to protect and save."

In this episode, Watson traverses the rugged and remote Kangaroo Island, scubas in the Great Barrier Reef, explores the protected oasis of Lady Elliott Island and more of Australia's diverse panorama.