In 2024, Malaysia experienced its most devastating coral bleaching event on record, with more than half of the country's corals turning ghostly white under extreme ocean heat. It was part of the fourth global coral bleaching event, a stark reminder of how climate change is rapidly reshaping our seas. To understand what this means for our reefs, marine life, and coastal communities, we speak with coral reef ecologists Sebastian Szereday (Co-founder, Coralku) and Alvin Chelliah (Chief Programme Officer, Reef Check Malaysia), two of the lead authors of a comprehensive new report documenting the impact, and what we can do about it. 


Image Credit: Coralku Solutions, Reef Check Malaysia 

In 2024, Malaysia experienced its most devastating coral bleaching event on record, with more than half of the country's corals turning ghostly white under extreme ocean heat. It was part of the fourth global coral bleaching event, a stark reminder of how climate change is rapidly reshaping our seas. To understand what this means for our reefs, marine life, and coastal communities, we speak with coral reef ecologists Sebastian Szereday (Co-founder, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.coralku.org/">Coralku</a>) and Alvin Chelliah (Chief Programme Officer, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.reefcheck.org.my/">Reef Check Malaysia</a>), two of the lead authors of a comprehensive new <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.coralku.org/publications/the-4th-global-coral-bleaching-event-in-malaysia%3A-insights%2C-outcomes%2C-and-paths-forward">report</a> documenting the impact, and what we can do about it.&nbsp; Image Credit: Coralku Solutions, Reef Check Malaysia

Climate change, ferocious weather and ‘the haze’ are now part our everyday lives. How are our lifestyles connected to them, and what can we do about it? What does the economy have to do with it? Earth Matters engages with activists and experts to explore our changing relationship with the planet that we only borrow from our children.

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