India, Aug. 31 -- Coral reefs are facing bleaching events more frequently, leaving them less time to recover between periods of severe heat stress.

Global hard coral cover has declined by an estimated 9.5% compared with the 1980-2009 reference period, the GCRMN report said.

More than 40% of reefs experienced heat stress severe enough to risk bleaching and mortality in 2024.

The report warned that marine heatwaves, driven by climate change and compounded by local pressures, could push reefs towards sustained decline.

Coral reefs around the world experienced increasingly frequent bleaching events, leaving them little time to recover before another episode of severe heat stress struck, according to the latest global assessment of coral r...