International environmental policy updates

Global Coral Bleaching Crisis Hits 54% of Reefs, Fourth Event in a Decade

Apr 15, 2024, 03:37 PM

The world is currently experiencing its fourth global coral bleaching event, confirmed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and various international scientific bodies. This event, marked by record-breaking ocean temperatures, has affected 54% of coral reefs across all major ocean basins, including the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Notably, the Great Barrier Reef has seen unprecedented levels of bleaching, with 80% of its area experiencing bleaching-level heat stress in 2024, the highest on record. This is the second global bleaching event in the last decade, driven by human-induced climate change, leading to widespread coral mortality and posing a significant threat to marine biodiversity.