Coral Reefs Under Threat from Climate Warming
New scientific studies reveal that coral reefs are facing severe pressure from global warming, with ocean acidification posing a significant threat to marine life.
Recent research indicates that warm-water coral reefs have crossed a tipping point due to global heating, resulting in accelerated death rates from repeated mass bleaching events.
- Impacting hundreds of millions of people relying on them for fishing, tourism, and protection from rising seas and storm surges.
- Global average temperatures are about 1.3-1.4C above pre-industrial times, exceeding the thermal tipping point of coral reefs, estimated to be 1.2C of warming.
The second Global Tipping Points report warns that if the trend is not reversed, coral reefs around the world will be lost.
The report, produced by over 160 scientists in 23 countries, led by the Global Systems Institute at the UK’s University of Exeter, highlights the urgent need for ocean protection to rise up the political agenda.
Author's summary: Coral reefs face severe pressure from global warming.