Global Coral Bleaching Event Reaches Unprecedented Severity

The International Coral Reef Initiative announced that a severe coral bleaching event has impacted 84% of the world's coral reefs. This is the most intense event of its kind in recorded history.

This is the fourth global bleaching event since 1998, surpassing the 2014-2017 event that affected approximately two-thirds of reefs. The current crisis, which began in 2023, is attributed to warming oceans, and its end date remains uncertain.

Experts express concern that the heat stress causing bleaching may never drop below the threshold that triggers global events. This situation is fundamentally altering the planet and the ability of oceans to support life and livelihoods.

Last year was the hottest on record, with much of the excess heat absorbed by the oceans. The average annual sea surface temperature of oceans away from the poles reached a record high. This elevated temperature is detrimental to corals.

Corals are crucial for seafood production, tourism, and protecting coastlines from erosion and storms. They are often called the "rainforests of the sea" due to their high biodiversity, supporting about 25% of all marine species.

Corals obtain their vibrant colors from algae that live within them, which also serve as a food source. Prolonged warmth causes the algae to release toxic compounds, leading the coral to expel them. This leaves behind a white skeleton, making the weakened coral vulnerable to death.

The severity of the bleaching event has prompted adjustments to the bleaching alert scale to account for the increasing risk of coral mortality.

Efforts are underway to conserve and restore coral reefs. Some initiatives involve propagating coral fragments in controlled environments for potential future repopulation of wild reefs. Other projects focus on rescuing and rehabilitating corals endangered by high temperatures before returning them to the ocean.

Scientists emphasize the critical need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide and methane, to address the root cause of climate change.

Experts believe that reducing human emissions, primarily from burning fossil fuels, is the most effective way to protect coral reefs. Other measures are seen as temporary solutions. Inaction poses a significant threat to coral reefs.