Almost all coral reef ecosystems face risk of collapse in 50 years, study warns
The first global assessment found coral reefs support a quarter of marine species but face collapse as warming oceans intensify bleaching.
- On Thursday, the International Union for Conservation of Nature warned that 96% of the world's shallow-water coral reefs face an "extremely high risk" of collapse by 2075 due to climate change.
- Heat stress from climate change is the "single most consistent threat driving coral reef decline worldwide," the IUCN said. The United Nations warned Wednesday that global temperatures are on track to rise 2.6°C this century.
- The IUCN's analysis examined 127 tropical and subtropical systems covering 188,362 sq km. Iconic sites including the Great Barrier Reef and the Coral Triangle are classified as "critically endangered," the highest risk category.
- Despite the dire findings, IUCN Director General Grethel Aguilar said reefs "are not yet lost." She called for "ambitious emissions reductions, stronger protection and restoration efforts" to give reefs a chance to recover.
- Mishal Gudka, scientific lead of the assessment, stated the risk is escalating but "must be a wake-up call rather than a cause for despair." Pockets of resilient coral reefs can still remain with decisive action, he added.
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Nearly all of the world's shallow coral reef ecosystems are at risk of total extinction in the next 50 years due to the effects of global warming, reported the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The rise in ocean temperature and sea heat waves has led to massive coral bleaching, threatening to destroy 96 per cent of such ecosystems by 2075, writes RIA News with reference to IUCN. "The risk of coral reef destruction is increas…
The International Union for Conservation of Nature said climate change was directly responsible for destroying these ecosystems in the first global assessment of its kind, published on Thursday.
Scientists behind report on coral reef collapse emphasize that the use of fossil fuels must decrease
berlingske.dk
BTScientists behind report on coral reef collapse emphasize that the use of fossil fuels must decrease.
A UN assessment warns that almost all shallow-water coral reefs are at risk of collapse by 2075.
Colorful coral reefs have a particularly high biodiversity. But now the first systematic study shows that almost all reefs are strongly threatened. Now they are on the Red List.
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