Coral bleaching is not just a temporary event—it’s a climate emergency that can unfold over years. In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, host Andrew Lewin dives deep into the devastating history of global coral bleaching events, revealing how the fourth and current one (2023–2025) affects over 80% of coral reefs worldwide. From the Great Barrier Reef to the Caribbean, bleaching is now a global phenomenon threatening biodiversity, food security, and coastal protection.

Climate change and rising ocean temperatures are causing corals to lose the vital algae that keep them alive. This episode unpacks the four global bleaching events (1998, 2010, 2014–2017, and now), explores why reefs are slow to recover, and explains what’s at stake for humans and marine ecosystems. You’ll also hear about the essential roles that coral reefs play—from acting as biodiversity hotspots to protecting coastlines during extreme weather events.

Link to article: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/apr/23/coral-reef-bleaching-worst-global-event-on-record

Chapters:
00:00 – What do you imagine when you hear 'coral bleaching'?
01:00 – What coral bleaching really means—and why it's worse now
03:00 – 1998: The first global coral bleaching event
04:00 – 2010: A warning sign that bleaching is getting more frequent
06:00 – 2014–2017: The longest, most widespread bleaching to date
07:00 – 2023–2025: The current event is affecting 80% of coral reefs
09:00 – Even remote reefs are being hit—why this is a biodiversity and human crisis
10:00 – Coral reefs as protectors of coastlines and cradles of biodiversity
12:00 – Lessons from the 2004 tsunami: Healthy reefs save lives
13:00 – Why we’re losing reef-building corals and what comes next

#oceanconservation #MarineBiology #SaveOurOceans #ProtectTheOcean #OceanAwareness #BluePlanet #ConservationMatters #ScienceForChange #SustainableOceans
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