Coral Die-off Marks First Climate 'Tipping Point'
A report by 160 researchers from 23 countries concludes that the Earth has reached its first catastrophic tipping point linked to greenhouse gas emissions, with coral reefs now in an almost irreversible die-off.
unless we return to global mean surface temperatures of 1.2C … we will not retain warm-water reefs on our planet at any meaningful scale
The Global Tipping Points report by the University of Exeter states that coral reefs hit a tipping point when warming reaches between 1C and 1.5C above 19th century temperatures, with global heating currently at about 1.4C.
The report also found that the temperature required to trigger the widespread dieback of the Amazon rainforest is lower than previously thought, with the lower end of the estimated range now at 1.5C.
This report comes just weeks ahead of this year’s COP30 climate summit being held in Brazil.
Author's summary: Coral reefs face irreversible die-off due to climate change.