The most severe global coral bleaching event ever recorded is underway, with most of the world's reefs hit by damaging heat stress, according to scientists. The devastating bleaching has affected 84% of the world's reefs,

Scientists forecast that at 1.5 degree celsius of warming above pre-industrial levels, which the Earth reached last year, some 70% to 90% of the world's coral reefs could disappear, which would have an enormous impact on human livelihoods and biodiversity.