Almost all coral reefs risk collapse in 50 years, study warns
The world’s coral reef ecosystems almost all face a high risk of collapse in the next 50 years mostly due to warming oceans and heat waves, according to a global assessment released Thursday. The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s assessment, announced on the sidelines of a U.N. biodiversity conference in Albania, found that 96 percent of shallow-water reef systems are already…
Nearly all of the world's coral reef ecosystems are at high risk of collapse within the next five decades, primarily due to rising ocean temperatures and heatwaves, according to a comprehensive global assessment released on Thursday. Conducted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the study, presented at a United Nations biodiversity conference in Albania, revealed that 96% of shallow-water reef systems are currently critically endangered and may disappear by 2075.
Among the most iconic reef systems, such as the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the Coral Triangle in Western Pacific Ocean and Southeast Asia, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, and the Red Sea coral reefs, all are classified as critically endangered, representing the highest threat level. Mishal Gudka, the scientific lead of the IUCN Red List of Coral Reef Ecosystems assessment, emphasized that while the risk of coral reef collapse is intensifying, it should serve as a wake-up call rather than instill despair.
Gudka highlighted that coral reefs have demonstrated a remarkable capacity to recover from severe bleaching events.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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