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Coral Reef Fearmongering Exposed

A much-publicized claim that the world’s coral reefs are being destroyed by climate change has been refuted by the CO₂ Coalition with the support by one the world’s leading experts on coral health.

"Surging temperatures worldwide have pushed coral reef ecosystems into a state of widespread decline, marking the first time the planet has reached a climate tipping point," says the report released recently.

The report claims that the world’s reefs have been enduring the worst mass bleaching event on record since 2023 as oceans reach record high temperatures, with more than 80% affected.

Fortunately, we had just received the final version of an analysis by Dr. Peter Ridd, a Coalition member who has studied for more than 35 years the world’s largest coral structure, the Great Barrier Reef off the eastern coast of Australia. His report debunks similar claims made in another report issued last month. We will have Dr. Ridd’s analysis ready for publication soon. In the meantime, here are the key facts: 

The Great Barrier Reef is Thriving: The world’s biggest and most thoroughly researched reef system has had record amounts of coral as recently as 2024. Rather than dying and in great danger, the GBR is doing marvelously well.

Corals Like it HOT: And the hotter, the better. Coral growth rates increase with temperature by up to 25% per degree Celsius. In addition, by changing the species of symbiotic algae inside them, which corals do routinely, they are better adapted to cope with increasing temperatures than almost any other organism. 

Indeed, data from the Great Barrier Reef collected by the Australian Institute of Marine Science indicates that growth rates for corals living in the southern, cooler parts of the GBR can increase by 50% with a 2^oC increase in water temperature (Lough 2008).

Any modest increase in ocean temperature, such as has occurred over the last few decades, is far more likely to be beneficial than harmful to coral.

Get Our New Illustrated Children's' Book About the Great Barrier Reef

Chloe the Clownfish Sleeps Well is a delightful read and brilliantly illustrated. Kids will readily identify with Chloe's concerns and confusion about the demise of the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. Parents can appreciate Chloe's relief after learning simple scientific facts about the health of modern coral reefs.

Those scientific facts correct the doomsday misinformation that has been causing Chloe, and so many children worldwide, the needless anxiety of a false climate crisis.

I promise Chloe the Clownfish will become a favorite bedtime story. In addition, a three-page postscript provides checkable facts for adults, so parents can also sleep well knowing their children are getting the best science possible. Enjoy!

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CO₂ Coalition

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Fairfax, Virginia 22031



Gregory Wrightstone

Executive Director,

CO₂ Coalition