UN Holds Emergency Session as Global Coral Bleaching Reaches Record Levels

The unprecedented event affects 77% of coral reefs worldwide, prompting urgent calls for increased funding at the COP16 summit in Colombia.

The current coral bleaching event, starting in February 2023, is the largest recorded, impacting 77% of global coral reefs.
Coral bleaching, primarily caused by rising ocean temperatures due to climate change, threatens ecosystems supporting 25% of marine life.
Countries like New Zealand, the UK, Germany, and France have pledged nearly $30 million to the UN Coral Reef Fund, aiming for $3 billion by 2030.
The UN emergency session at COP16 highlighted the need for immediate action to prevent further degradation of coral reefs.
Future efforts will focus on securing an additional $150 million at the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France, in June 2025.