By 2025, rising sea temperatures fuelled by global warming could cause the Great Barrier Reef to disappear. Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, of the University of Queensland, told The Age newspaper, “We may see a complete devastation of coral communities on the reef and a major change to the pristine values, which at the moment are our pride and joy.”

Coral bleaching, caused by global warming, presents the greatest risk to the reef and could cause the extinction of many coral species.

The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest chain of living coral. It has suffered two mass coral bleaching episodes in the last five years. The most recent, damaged about 55% of the reef’s coral systems.