Terry Hughes
@profterryhughes.bsky.social
Scientist, mentor, posting on #ecology and #conservation, #environment, #climate change and #coral reefs. Australian-Irish. Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science.
https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=MhJ2LfsAAAAJ&hl=en
https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=MhJ2LfsAAAAJ&hl=en
Pinned
Terry Hughes
@profterryhughes.bsky.social
· Jan 18
Earth’s Coral Reefs Face a New, Deadly Mass Bleaching. They Can Still Be Saved
“A mass bleaching event is, by definition, a mass mortality event,” a leading coral reef expert says
www.scientificamerican.com
Interview re coral reefs with Scientific American:
“We shouldn’t give up on the world’s coral reefs…. But restoration is not the way to save them.
The way to save them is to deal with greenhouse gas emissions, & that, of course, is much, much harder.”
www.scientificamerican.com/article/eart...
“We shouldn’t give up on the world’s coral reefs…. But restoration is not the way to save them.
The way to save them is to deal with greenhouse gas emissions, & that, of course, is much, much harder.”
www.scientificamerican.com/article/eart...
“More than 34,000 dead marine animals have been logged (on beaches) – while, of course, far more have gone unobserved.”
The true death toll - silent and unseen - is billions of marine animals and plants.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
The true death toll - silent and unseen - is billions of marine animals and plants.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
61 leafy seadragons, 604 Port Jackson sharks: logging the grim tally of death in South Australia’s algal bloom
Experts say data reported by beachgoers is ‘hugely useful’ after a slow official response to disaster
www.theguardian.com
September 1, 2025 at 10:20 PM
“More than 34,000 dead marine animals have been logged (on beaches) – while, of course, far more have gone unobserved.”
The true death toll - silent and unseen - is billions of marine animals and plants.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
The true death toll - silent and unseen - is billions of marine animals and plants.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Terry Hughes
New research from The Australia Institute shows that 26 out of Australia’s 37 universities have financial links to fossil fuel companies.
reneweconomy.com.au
August 27, 2025 at 6:14 AM
New research from The Australia Institute shows that 26 out of Australia’s 37 universities have financial links to fossil fuel companies.
One of three coal exporting ports - on The Best-Managed World-Heritage-listed Coral Reef in the World.
August 22, 2025 at 6:52 AM
One of three coal exporting ports - on The Best-Managed World-Heritage-listed Coral Reef in the World.
Reposted by Terry Hughes
Glencore, a company that's expanding a massive coal mine in Queensland, Australia, is going to destroy a massive amount of koala habitat - and plans to buy 'koala offsets' to claim they've undone that damage
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
August 15, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Glencore, a company that's expanding a massive coal mine in Queensland, Australia, is going to destroy a massive amount of koala habitat - and plans to buy 'koala offsets' to claim they've undone that damage
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Reposted by Terry Hughes
Climate models since the 1970s nailed it—most predicted global warming almost exactly as it happened.
August 18, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Climate models since the 1970s nailed it—most predicted global warming almost exactly as it happened.
Official vague statement released in May 2024.
We knew by then that billions of corals were dead or dying due to extreme heat stress in Jan-March. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
The Australian government stayed silent for another 14 months, until after an election & more fossil fuel permits.
We knew by then that billions of corals were dead or dying due to extreme heat stress in Jan-March. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
The Australian government stayed silent for another 14 months, until after an election & more fossil fuel permits.
August 12, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Official vague statement released in May 2024.
We knew by then that billions of corals were dead or dying due to extreme heat stress in Jan-March. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
The Australian government stayed silent for another 14 months, until after an election & more fossil fuel permits.
We knew by then that billions of corals were dead or dying due to extreme heat stress in Jan-March. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
The Australian government stayed silent for another 14 months, until after an election & more fossil fuel permits.
Reposted by Terry Hughes
Last week we learned the Great Barrier Reef has suffered some of the worst bleaching in history
This week, Ningaloo, another 🇦🇺 icon is experiencing catastrophic coral loss
These are national treasures. We must take strong action on climate to save them.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...
This week, Ningaloo, another 🇦🇺 icon is experiencing catastrophic coral loss
These are national treasures. We must take strong action on climate to save them.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...
'Hope spot' to 'skeletons': Ningaloo's 'catastrophic' event
In Western Australia, the damage to coral reefs including the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo has eclipsed any previous bleaching events.
www.abc.net.au
August 11, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Last week we learned the Great Barrier Reef has suffered some of the worst bleaching in history
This week, Ningaloo, another 🇦🇺 icon is experiencing catastrophic coral loss
These are national treasures. We must take strong action on climate to save them.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...
This week, Ningaloo, another 🇦🇺 icon is experiencing catastrophic coral loss
These are national treasures. We must take strong action on climate to save them.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...
Reposted by Terry Hughes
Concerning reports the unreleased National Climate Risk Assessment is “dire” and “diabolical”.
It maps what the people & places we love stand to lose from climate change.
We should know this before the govt sets our 2035 emissions target
Release it now.
www.afr.com/policy/energ...
It maps what the people & places we love stand to lose from climate change.
We should know this before the govt sets our 2035 emissions target
Release it now.
www.afr.com/policy/energ...
Labor keeps ‘dire’ climate report under wraps
The government has delayed the release of a “shocking” assessment of global warming’s effect on the economy, just weeks before its 2035 target decision.
www.afr.com
August 11, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Concerning reports the unreleased National Climate Risk Assessment is “dire” and “diabolical”.
It maps what the people & places we love stand to lose from climate change.
We should know this before the govt sets our 2035 emissions target
Release it now.
www.afr.com/policy/energ...
It maps what the people & places we love stand to lose from climate change.
We should know this before the govt sets our 2035 emissions target
Release it now.
www.afr.com/policy/energ...
Reposted by Terry Hughes
The oil industry's Alliance to End Plastic Waste was created to "change the conversation – away from short-term simplistic bans of plastic," documents reveal
unearthed.greenpeace.org/2024/11/20/a...
unearthed.greenpeace.org/2024/11/20/a...
Companies behind campaign to ‘end plastic waste’ produced 1,000 times more plastic than it cleaned up
The Alliance to End Plastic Waste spent five years clearing up the amount of plastic its key oil and chemical members produce in two days
unearthed.greenpeace.org
August 6, 2025 at 10:43 AM
The oil industry's Alliance to End Plastic Waste was created to "change the conversation – away from short-term simplistic bans of plastic," documents reveal
unearthed.greenpeace.org/2024/11/20/a...
unearthed.greenpeace.org/2024/11/20/a...
You haven’t been paying attention if you’re surprised that Ningaloo Reef is affected (again) by climate change.
“Unprecedented Mass Bleaching and Loss of Coral across 12° of Latitude in Western Australia in 2010–11”. journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
“Unprecedented Mass Bleaching and Loss of Coral across 12° of Latitude in Western Australia in 2010–11”. journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘It was our hope spot’: scientists heartbroken as pristine coral gardens hit by Western Australia’s worst bleaching event
Usually alive with colour and fish, Ningaloo reef and the Rowley Showls now look as though they are ‘painted white’ as temperatures rise
www.theguardian.com
August 10, 2025 at 11:47 AM
You haven’t been paying attention if you’re surprised that Ningaloo Reef is affected (again) by climate change.
“Unprecedented Mass Bleaching and Loss of Coral across 12° of Latitude in Western Australia in 2010–11”. journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
“Unprecedented Mass Bleaching and Loss of Coral across 12° of Latitude in Western Australia in 2010–11”. journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
If the Great Barrier Reef had a voice, it would be screaming 😱
Picture shows a 500yr old bleached coral, clinging to life - off Heron island, April 2024.
Picture shows a 500yr old bleached coral, clinging to life - off Heron island, April 2024.
August 10, 2025 at 6:08 AM
If the Great Barrier Reef had a voice, it would be screaming 😱
Picture shows a 500yr old bleached coral, clinging to life - off Heron island, April 2024.
Picture shows a 500yr old bleached coral, clinging to life - off Heron island, April 2024.
Reposted by Terry Hughes
Enjoyed speaking to Ethan Hamilton @ Law Society Journal about how the ICJ Advisory Opinion on Climate Change will shape Australia’s obligations to our Pacific neighbours, particularly as one of the largest exporters of fossil fuels in the world.
lsj.com.au/articles/int...
lsj.com.au/articles/int...
International ruling highlights Australia’s climate obligations to Pacific neighbours - Law Society Journal
A ruling in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has highlighted Australia’s obligation to smaller nations affected by climate change and could open the country...
lsj.com.au
August 8, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Enjoyed speaking to Ethan Hamilton @ Law Society Journal about how the ICJ Advisory Opinion on Climate Change will shape Australia’s obligations to our Pacific neighbours, particularly as one of the largest exporters of fossil fuels in the world.
lsj.com.au/articles/int...
lsj.com.au/articles/int...
Reposted by Terry Hughes
The recent ICJ Advisory Opinion on climate has been cited for the first time in a climate litigation case in South Africa, challenging the approval of an oil project.
thegreenconnection.org.za/wp-content/u...
thegreenconnection.org.za/wp-content/u...
thegreenconnection.org.za
August 9, 2025 at 3:09 PM
The recent ICJ Advisory Opinion on climate has been cited for the first time in a climate litigation case in South Africa, challenging the approval of an oil project.
thegreenconnection.org.za/wp-content/u...
thegreenconnection.org.za/wp-content/u...
Mass mortality of corals throughout the Great Barrier Reef in 2024 has been hidden from the public since late last year, with this exception - published last December:
www.voanews.com/a/surveys-sh...
www.voanews.com/a/surveys-sh...
August 9, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Mass mortality of corals throughout the Great Barrier Reef in 2024 has been hidden from the public since late last year, with this exception - published last December:
www.voanews.com/a/surveys-sh...
www.voanews.com/a/surveys-sh...
Law Society Journal: “The appointment of envoys might appear to the cynical as reactionary measures to public demand for action….”
lsj.com.au/articles/the...
lsj.com.au/articles/the...
August 9, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Law Society Journal: “The appointment of envoys might appear to the cynical as reactionary measures to public demand for action….”
lsj.com.au/articles/the...
lsj.com.au/articles/the...
Australia: The political appointment of “Special Envoy to the Great Barrier Reef” has been quietly scrapped.
And nobody actually noticed.
thenightly.com.au/politics/aar...
And nobody actually noticed.
thenightly.com.au/politics/aar...
Jobs for the ‘voys: MPs caught between Cabinet and backbench
The fastest-growing parliamentary jobs are special envoys, who occupy a twilight zone between minister and backbencher. Their responsibilities are vague.
thenightly.com.au
August 9, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Australia: The political appointment of “Special Envoy to the Great Barrier Reef” has been quietly scrapped.
And nobody actually noticed.
thenightly.com.au/politics/aar...
And nobody actually noticed.
thenightly.com.au/politics/aar...
Interesting article on mobility of early career researchers, and the barriers they face. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
How researcher visa curbs threaten science careers
Anti-immigration sentiment is fuelling a drive to slash international student and worker numbers, but at what cost to researchers and countries leading the charge?
www.nature.com
August 8, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Interesting article on mobility of early career researchers, and the barriers they face. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
″Following the consideration of rigorous scientific and other advice, a proposed decision to approve the North West Shelf gas development has been made”.
Of course, ‘consideration’ actually means ‘dismissal’.
Of course, ‘consideration’ actually means ‘dismissal’.
📢 The west-coast reef has largely escaped the curse of coral bleaching that has blighted the Great Barrier Reef. This year, that’s changed.
‘You realise your children are probably never going to see Ningaloo the way you saw it’
www.smh.com.au
August 8, 2025 at 2:39 AM
″Following the consideration of rigorous scientific and other advice, a proposed decision to approve the North West Shelf gas development has been made”.
Of course, ‘consideration’ actually means ‘dismissal’.
Of course, ‘consideration’ actually means ‘dismissal’.
True, you can feed aquarium corals with brine shrimp.
But how do you feed billions of surviving wild corals in an area the size of 70 million football fields?
But how do you feed billions of surviving wild corals in an area the size of 70 million football fields?
Scientists are hunting for "super corals" and exploring nutritional supplements to boost resilience. Can these efforts save the Great Barrier Reef? #GreatBarrierReef #CoralReefs
‘Super corals’ and supplements: Inside the lab trying to save the Great Barrier Reef
Editor’s Note: Call to Earth is a CNN editorial series committed to reporting on the environmental challenges facing our planet, together with the solutions. Rolex’s Perpetual Planet Initiative has partnered with CNN to drive awareness and education around key sustainability issues and to inspire po
www.onlytrustedinfo.com
August 8, 2025 at 2:30 AM
True, you can feed aquarium corals with brine shrimp.
But how do you feed billions of surviving wild corals in an area the size of 70 million football fields?
But how do you feed billions of surviving wild corals in an area the size of 70 million football fields?
AFP fact check: “Pour sauver la Barrière de Corail, le monde doit rapidement réduire les émissions de gaz à effet de serre", appelle moi.
Culling a few starfish won’t climate-proof coral reefs. factuel.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
Culling a few starfish won’t climate-proof coral reefs. factuel.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
factuel.afp.com
August 8, 2025 at 12:20 AM
AFP fact check: “Pour sauver la Barrière de Corail, le monde doit rapidement réduire les émissions de gaz à effet de serre", appelle moi.
Culling a few starfish won’t climate-proof coral reefs. factuel.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
Culling a few starfish won’t climate-proof coral reefs. factuel.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
The image of dying corals comes from Lizard Island in 2016, not 2024.
Here’s a comparison of coral mortality in the northern Great Barrier Reef in 2016 and 2024.
Here’s a comparison of coral mortality in the northern Great Barrier Reef in 2016 and 2024.
August 7, 2025 at 10:27 PM
The image of dying corals comes from Lizard Island in 2016, not 2024.
Here’s a comparison of coral mortality in the northern Great Barrier Reef in 2016 and 2024.
Here’s a comparison of coral mortality in the northern Great Barrier Reef in 2016 and 2024.
The middle region of the Great Barrier Reef was under-sampled in 2024 surveys - only 3 reefs between Cairns and Townsville. theconversation.com/worlds-bigge...
August 7, 2025 at 10:23 PM
The middle region of the Great Barrier Reef was under-sampled in 2024 surveys - only 3 reefs between Cairns and Townsville. theconversation.com/worlds-bigge...
The media (and annual reports) tend to focus on single catastrophic climate events.
Yes, the 2024 coral bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef was terrible.
But it’s the cumulative impacts of recurring disasters that matters in the longer term.
www.smh.com.au/environment/...
Yes, the 2024 coral bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef was terrible.
But it’s the cumulative impacts of recurring disasters that matters in the longer term.
www.smh.com.au/environment/...
August 7, 2025 at 12:53 PM
The media (and annual reports) tend to focus on single catastrophic climate events.
Yes, the 2024 coral bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef was terrible.
But it’s the cumulative impacts of recurring disasters that matters in the longer term.
www.smh.com.au/environment/...
Yes, the 2024 coral bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef was terrible.
But it’s the cumulative impacts of recurring disasters that matters in the longer term.
www.smh.com.au/environment/...
Reposted by Terry Hughes
Mike Hudema
Water temperatures around Australia's Great Barrier Reef were the warmest they've been in over 400 years this year, according to new research.
Scientists say the reef is facing "catastrophic damage."
No time to waste. ActOnClimate
Water temperatures around Australia's Great Barrier Reef were the warmest they've been in over 400 years this year, according to new research.
Scientists say the reef is facing "catastrophic damage."
No time to waste. ActOnClimate
August 7, 2025 at 1:29 AM
Mike Hudema
Water temperatures around Australia's Great Barrier Reef were the warmest they've been in over 400 years this year, according to new research.
Scientists say the reef is facing "catastrophic damage."
No time to waste. ActOnClimate
Water temperatures around Australia's Great Barrier Reef were the warmest they've been in over 400 years this year, according to new research.
Scientists say the reef is facing "catastrophic damage."
No time to waste. ActOnClimate
“Parts”
So far, 98% of the Great Barrier Reef has experienced coral bleaching at least once in 2016, 2017, 2020’ 2022, 2024 and 2025.
In 2016, 51% of corals died in the northern third of the Reef - an even bigger loss there than in 2024.
www.cell.com/current-biol...
So far, 98% of the Great Barrier Reef has experienced coral bleaching at least once in 2016, 2017, 2020’ 2022, 2024 and 2025.
In 2016, 51% of corals died in the northern third of the Reef - an even bigger loss there than in 2024.
www.cell.com/current-biol...
August 7, 2025 at 12:23 AM
“Parts”
So far, 98% of the Great Barrier Reef has experienced coral bleaching at least once in 2016, 2017, 2020’ 2022, 2024 and 2025.
In 2016, 51% of corals died in the northern third of the Reef - an even bigger loss there than in 2024.
www.cell.com/current-biol...
So far, 98% of the Great Barrier Reef has experienced coral bleaching at least once in 2016, 2017, 2020’ 2022, 2024 and 2025.
In 2016, 51% of corals died in the northern third of the Reef - an even bigger loss there than in 2024.
www.cell.com/current-biol...