Catastrophic Tipping Point Reached: World’s Coral Reefs on Brink of MASS DIEBACK as Global Warming Takes Its Toll
- More than 80% of coral reefs worldwide have bleached in just two years, with experts warning of irreversible damage
- The world has reached a critical threshold of 1.2°C of global warming, triggering a “tipping point” for coral reefs
- The devastating impact will be felt by hundreds of millions of people who depend on the reefs for fishing, tourism, and coastal protection
In a dire warning, an international report has revealed that the world’s coral reefs have reached a catastrophic tipping point, putting them at risk of mass dieback due to global warming. The Global Tipping Points Report, compiled by 160 scientists from 23 countries, sounds the alarm on the devastating impact of climate change on the planet’s warm water coral reefs.
In Western Australia, the damage to coral reefs, including the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo, has eclipsed any previous bleaching events. Tim Lenton, a University of Exeter professor and climate modeller who led the report, warned that the tipping point is no longer a future risk, but a harsh reality. “The first tipping point of widespread dieback of those warm water coral reefs is already underway,” he said.
The consequences of this environmental disaster will be felt by hundreds of millions of people who depend on the reefs for fishing, tourism, and coastal protection from rising sea levels and storm surges. David Obura, a marine ecologist and coral expert, stressed that coral reefs that go past the tipping threshold are highly likely to remain changed, with coral potentially being replaced by algae cover.
The report highlights that the world is on track to see surface temperatures warm by as much as 3.1°C by 2100, based on current decarbonisation policies of international governments. This has contributed to the worst global coral bleaching event on modern record, with about 84% of the world’s reefs having bleached in the fourth global bleaching event since January 2023.
Scientists are urging world leaders to take immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prevent further irreversible damage. Professor Lenton warned that if global leaders fail to act, tipping points will become irreversible, with devastating consequences for the planet. “We can no longer talk about tipping points as a future risk,” he said.
The report’s stark warnings have been echoed by Australian scientists, who agree that a rapid decline in carbon emissions is necessary to protect reefs. Dr Beeden, Great Barrier Reef Marine Authority chief scientist, stressed that managing local pressures on coral reefs is also crucial, both in Australia and globally.