Mass Coral Bleaching Occurring on Most of Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is in the grip of its fifth mass bleaching event in eight years due to heat stress caused by climate change. Conservation and climate action groups are dismayed but far from surprised by what’s unfolding at hundreds of sites along two-thirds of the reef. They say there will be more of the same in years to come if Australia continues to exploit the fossil fuels that cause climate change. “The current federal government has approved at least five new fossil fuel projects since the last mass bleaching event (in 2022),” the Climate Council’s Simon Bradshaw said on March 8....