A new assessment by United Nations nature advisers warns that nearly all shallow-water coral reefs worldwide—including iconic systems like the Great Barrier Reef—are at high risk of collapse by 2075 due to global heating. While about a quarter of reefs across over 80 countries are already critically endangered, the study reveals that factoring in climate impacts pushes that figure to 96%, underscoring the urgent threat facing these fragile ecosystems. Scientists describe the findings as a stark "wake-up call" for global action.
Assessment finds global heating is endangering 96% of coral reefs across 80 countries – a figure scientists say should serve as a ‘wake-up call’Sign up for climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s free Clear Air newsletter hereAlmost every shallow-water coral reef on the planet, including Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, faces a high risk of ecosystem collapse before 2075 because of global heating, according to an assessment by United Nations nature advisers.About 24% of the planet’s reefs across more than 80 countries are already critically endangered, the assessment said, but when the expected impacts of global heating were added this rose to 96%.Sign up to get climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s Clear Air column as a free newsletter Continue reading...
