Recent research reveals a staggering 44% of tropical coral species are now at risk of extinction, primarily due to rising ocean temperatures linked to climate change. This alarming statistic marks a significant increase from 2008, when one-third of coral species were deemed threatened.
Conducted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the updated assessment highlights that 892 reef-building coral species are currently endangered. The study underscores the urgent need for global action to reduce fossil fuel use, as healthy marine ecosystems are crucial for both ocean life and human populations.
Coral reefs, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, are suffering not only from heat stress but also from pollution and severe weather events. The Great Barrier Reef in Australia has recently experienced one of the worst bleaching events on record. Furthermore, nearly one-third of Atlantic coral species are also on the brink of extinction, a figure that exceeds previous estimates.
Scientists emphasize that the ongoing evaluation of cold-water corals, which inhabit deeper oceanic regions, may reveal even more concerning extinction risks.