Scientists warn that the planet has crossed its first climate tipping point, with global heating pushing warm-water reefs past a point of no return.
Mass bleaching since 2023 has affected more than four-fifths of reefs, posing cascading risks for food security, coastal protection, and the global economy ahead of COP30.
The central estimate of coral reefs’ tipping point of 1.2°C global warming has been crossed
According to the 2025 Global Tipping Points Report, global average temperatures are now roughly 1.4°C above preindustrial levels, confirming that one of the irreversible thresholds has already been crossed.
Author's summary: Planet crosses first climate tipping point.