Great Barrier Reef suffering ‘most severe’ coral bleaching on record as footage shows damage 18 metres down

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Guardian or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: The Great Barrier Reef is currently undergoing what may be its most severe coral bleaching event ever recorded, with damage observed up to 18 meters below the surface
• This was reported following aerial surveys by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and additional evidence from the Australian Marine Conservation Society

🔭 The context: This fifth mass bleaching event in eight years has affected over half of the surveyed reefs, with a notable increase in sea surface temperatures cited as a contributing factor
• Marine biologist Dr. Selina Ward called this the worst bleaching event she's witnessed in her 30 years of working on the reef, noting the unusual resistance to bleaching of some affected coral species

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The Great Barrier Reef, a key biodiversity hotspot and a significant carbon sink, faces a grim future amid escalating climate change
• The extensive bleaching and death of corals underscore the urgent need for robust action against global warming and fossil fuel exploitation to preserve this irreplaceable ecosystem

⏭️ What's next: Experts are calling for immediate and aggressive global and national actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• The unfolding disaster at the Great Barrier Reef serves as a stark indicator of the broader environmental crises facing the world's coral reefs and marine biodiversity due to climate change

💬 One quote: "What are we doing to stop the reef from being lost? We cannot expect to save the Great Barrier Reef and be opening new fossil fuel developments. It’s time to act and there are no more excuses," stated Dr. Selina Ward.

📈 One stat: The Great Barrier Reef is experiencing its fifth mass bleaching event in eight years, with more than half of the surveyed reefs showing high or very high levels of bleaching.

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