New Delhi: The Global Coral Bleaching Crisis 2025 has emerged as one of the most devastating environmental disasters in recent history.
According to the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), 84% of the world’s coral reef ecosystems are now affected by mass bleaching.
They are triggered by rising ocean temperatures due to climate change.
🌐 A Planetary Emergency Unfolds
In an alarming development, the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) has reported that approximately 84% of the world’s coral reef ecosystems are experiencing bleaching due to elevated ocean temperatures.
This marks the most extensive coral bleaching event in recorded history, surpassing the previous major event from 2014 to 2017.
🔬 Understanding Coral Bleaching
Coral bleaching occurs when corals, stressed by factors like increased sea temperatures, expel the symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) living in their tissues.
This not only causes the corals to turn white but also deprives them of essential nutrients, often leading to widespread coral mortality.
📍 Global Impact
The bleaching event has had a profound impact on coral reefs across at least 83 countries and territories, including:
- Florida Keys, USA: Complete die-offs in certain reef areas.
- Great Barrier Reef, Australia: Experiencing its fifth mass bleaching event since 2016.
- Pacific Coast near Mexico: Coral mortality rates reaching up to 93%.AP News+14World Economic Forum+14Axios+14
📈 Record-Breaking Ocean Temperatures
The ongoing bleaching correlates with unprecedented sea surface temperatures.
In 2024, the average annual sea surface temperature in non-polar oceans reached 20.87°C, exceeding the thermal tolerance of many coral species.
🧪 Scientific Community’s Response
The severity of this event has prompted NOAA’s Coral Reef Watch program to expand its bleaching alert scale, adding three new categories to accurately represent the unprecedented risk levels.
Climatologist Alex Sen Gupta from the University of New South Wales likened this to adding Category 6 and 7 to the tropical cyclone scale.
🌍 Global Call to Action: Global Coral Bleaching Crisis
In response to the crisis, the United Nations convened an emergency session during the COP16 biodiversity summit in Cali, Colombia, in October 2024.
Discussions focused on implementing immediate measures to mitigate the impact and prevent future occurrences.
🧭 Why This Matters
Coral reefs are vital to marine biodiversity, supporting approximately 25% of all marine species.
They also provide coastal protection, support fishing industries, and contribute to tourism economies.
The loss of coral reefs could have cascading effects on global ecosystems and economies.