Heat Stress Has Put 84% of the World’s Coral Reefs Into Crisis

Heat stress has impacted 84% of the world’s coral reefs as surging ocean temperatures continue to fuel the most severe global bleaching event on record.

The current bleaching event which began in early 2023 has affected 82 countries and territories, damaging marine ecosystems and delivering economic losses, the International Coral Reef Initiative said in a report published on Wednesday. Coral reefs underpin an estimated $2.7 trillion a year of goods and services.