Great Barrier Reef Faces Fifth Mass Bleaching in a Decade

Record-breaking global temperatures and climate change drive widespread coral bleaching, underscoring the urgent need for climate action.

The Great Barrier Reef is experiencing its fifth mass coral bleaching event in nearly a decade, highlighting the ongoing impact of climate change on marine ecosystems.
Officials attribute the bleaching to heat stress following a record-breaking year for global temperatures, with aerial surveys revealing widespread shallow water coral bleaching.
The event is part of a global pattern of coral bleaching driven by climate change and exacerbated by El Niño conditions, affecting reefs worldwide.
Despite the damage, bleached coral can recover if water temperatures normalize, though they become more vulnerable to stress and disease.
Experts emphasize the need for global and local actions to address climate change and protect coral reefs, including reducing carbon emissions and limiting fossil fuel pollution.