The MSC Foundation is backing critical new research from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List which revealed that 44 percent of reef-building coral species are at risk of extinction, according to a press release.

Presented at the COP29 UN climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, the study highlights a pressing threat to coral ecosystems. MSC Foundation Executive Director Daniela Picco joined IUCN Deputy Director General Stewart Maginnis and others at the Global Corals Update to discuss the Foundation’s commitment to incorporating these findings into its conservation and grant-making efforts.

Picco said: “This Global Coral Assessment raises the alarm for urgent collective action to stop the decline of coral reefs worldwide. The MSC Foundation is proud to partner with the IUCN Coral Red List team, who has done an exceptional job collecting the data to assess and report on the status of the world’s reef-building corals.

“The IUCN Red List guides our Foundation in making science-based philanthropic decisions, for lasting and impactful conservation efforts that contribute to preserving our planet. It will continue to be a vital resource for our family-led Foundation for generations.”

According to IUCN’s latest assessment, these warm-water reef-building coral species face an increasing risk of extinction. While a third of these species were already classified as threatened in 2008, the new data shows that approximately 44 percent now face extinction risks, mostly due to climate change, ocean warming and severe coral bleaching events. Additional threats include pollution, agricultural runoff, disease and unsustainable fishing. The report highlights the importance of the MSC Foundation’s work on Ocean Cay in The Bahamas, where it supports the cultivation of resilient, Critically Endangered Elkhorn Coral species in an open-water nursery, the company stated.