Great Barrier Reef Hit With Mass Coral Bleaching Event Due To Global Warming

The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is experiencing another catastrophic coral bleaching due to high ocean temperatures caused by the global climate crisis and exacerbated by El Niño.

Worst Bleaching Event

The Great Barrier Reef, often referred to as the world's biggest coral system, is a 2,300-kilometer (1,400-mile) expanse of tropical corals that is home to an incredible variety of wildlife.

However, repeated major bleaching events have threatened to deprive the tourist attraction of its enchantment, converting banks of once-vibrant corals into a sickly white.

Bleaching happens when a stressed coral ejects algae from its tissue, depriving it of sustenance. If the water temperature continues above average for an extended period of time, coral will starve and die, exposing its carbonate skeleton and turning white.

Scientists believe corals can recover if ocean temperatures stabilize.

This is the fifth time in eight years that widespread damage has been discovered at the Unesco World Heritage Site.

Until 2016, just two mass bleaching occurrences had been recorded, and scientists believe immediate climate action is required for the reef to survive.

An aerial assessment of 320 reefs spanning from Australia's tip to the city of Bundaberg revealed that the majority are bleaching as a result of a summer of high water temperatures.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority stated that in-water assessments are already ongoing to establish the severity and depth of the damage, which is anticipated to vary widely across the reef.

The body's Chief Scientist, Roger Beeden, said that bleaching in the southern zone was the worst in over 20 years and might become "unprecedented."

"It's too early to say what the full consequences of this event is. If the conditions cool, we could see a lot of what's bleached recover," he added.

Severe mass bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef was previously recorded in 1998, 2002, 2016, 2017, 2020, and 2022.

Huge Wake Up Call

The Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) said that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's administration must significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and stop licensing new fossil fuel projects.

"It's devastating. This is a huge wake-up call for Australia and the global community that we need to do much more to address climate change, which is driving the marine heatwaves that lead to coral bleaching," said AMCS Great Barrier Reef campaign manager Dr. Lissa Schindler.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek described climate change as "the biggest threat to coral reefs worldwide" and stated that her administration has increased financing for reef conservation and implemented tighter emissions-reduction objectives.

The Australian government has been under pressure to demonstrate that it is doing enough to protect the reef.

It has allocated one billion Australian dollars ($660 million) over ten years to fund new climate adaptation technology, water quality projects, and the protection of vital reef species.

While the additional investment was welcomed, global climate experts, among others, have criticized the government for failing to do more to transition Australia away from fossil fuels and cut emissions in order to keep global warming below 1.5°C, a key threshold for coral reefs.