World is losing half its coral

Almost half of all warm-water species of coral are threatened with extinction - and climate change is the chief culprit, a new report said yesterday.

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The updated risk assessment from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) was announced at the COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan, which is being skipped by the leaders of many top polluting nations.

Oceans have absorbed about 90% of the excess heat in the atmosphere due to the release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

Rising ocean temperatures have spurred mass bleaching events at coral reefs across the world, threatening crucial ecosystems for marine life, as well as the livelihoods of people who rely on them.