Scientists from Macquarie University in Sydney and the Wildlife Conservation Society in New York have produced the most comprehensive global assessment of climate‑resilient coral reefs to date. The study examined 165,922 square kilometres of ocean floor across 71 nations.

Key findings

The analysis identified three times as many reef sites capable of withstanding a high‑emissions scenario for 2050 compared with the 2018 assessment. Yet only about 28% of these newly recognised resilient reefs fall within existing protected or conserved areas.

More than half of all coral reefs have been lost worldwide since the 1950s, and the period from 2023 to 2025 recorded the most severe global bleaching event on record, with heat stress affecting 84% of reefs. Water pollution and over‑fishing are cited as major threats to roughly two‑thirds of reefs globally.

European Union overseas territories

Over one‑fifth of the world’s warm‑water coral reefs are situated within the European Union’s overseas territories and outermost regions. These reefs occur in seven British, six Dutch and thirteen French jurisdictions. Approximately one‑third of the marine areas belonging to EU overseas entities already enjoy some form of protected status.

Despite this, the majority of the resilient reefs identified by the study lie outside current protection. Union representatives in the overseas territories are lobbying for stronger EU funding mechanisms and clearer legal frameworks to safeguard these sites.

Funding and local action

Protection funding in EU overseas territories is partially supplied through the BEST Initiative, which has supported 81 biodiversity projects across the regions. A recent conservation effort on Réunion Island saw divers remove decades‑old metal waste from eight reef sites, illustrating the type of locally led actions advocated by experts.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature has warned that legal designations alone are insufficient without effective governance and locally driven action. Researchers argue that their map of resilient reefs can guide the allocation of limited conservation resources.

Why resilience matters

Resilience is linked to reefs that sit in naturally cooler waters, possess biological traits that reduce bleaching, or recover more quickly after stress. Healthier reefs can reduce wave energy by up to 97%, providing natural breakwaters that protect coastlines. Improved reef health is also expected to boost tourism, fisheries and coastal protection for communities in French, Dutch and British overseas territories.

Experts stress that the new findings offer hope for coral ecosystems, but emphasise that political will and sustained commitment are now required to translate scientific insight into effective protection.