Over 40% of coral species face extinction – Wolfson SF part of global assessment team presenting critical report at COP29

Professor James Crabbe, Supernumerary Fellow at Wolfson, is part of an international team that has been assessing the conservation status of 892 warm-water reef-building coral species for the IUCN Red List, an analysis now revealed to show that 44% are threatened. The threats to reef-building corals were last assessed for the IUCN Red List in 2008, and at that time one third were found to be threatened.

Climate change is the main threat to reef-building coral species, with additional risk from severe bleaching events and other pervasive threats including pollution, agricultural runoff, disease and unsustainable fishing.

The main solution to save corals from extinction is cutting greenhouse gas emissions, accompanied by actions to address other threats, to strengthen species’ resilience. The assessors also recommend more research into if and how corals can adapt to warmer waters, with evidence of limited adaptation so far.

Professor Crabbe said of the report, “Our work shows that limiting carbon emissions is vital to the preservation of coral reef ecosystems, which are so important in providing medicines, food, biodiversity, coastal protection and economic prosperity – as well as pleasure and beauty – to us all.”

For more information on the IUCN Red List report, click here.

Professor Crabbe is also a co-author of the PLoS One paper on the Atlantic species under threat of extinction, and a member of the IUCN Species Survival Commission.