Australia’s Great Barrier Reef — the world’s largest coral reef system — has been under critical pressure in recent years, with warming sea surface temperatures leading to mass coral bleaching that threatens its unique biodiversity, ecology and stunning beauty.
Temperatures in the Great Barrier Reef have reached the hottest in more than 400 years, new research has found, presenting an “existential threat” to the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
“Mass coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) in Australia between 2016 and 2024 was driven by high sea surface temperatures,” the authors of the study wrote. “Without urgent intervention, the iconic GBR is at risk of experiencing temperatures conducive to near-annual coral bleaching, with negative consequences for biodiversity and ecosystems services. A continuation on the current trajectory would further threaten the ecological function and outstanding universal value of one of Earth’s greatest natural wonders.”
The researchers reconstructed 400 years of Coral Sea summer surface temperatures and found that recent extreme ocean heat has resulted in mass coral bleaching of the GBR, a press release from University of Wollongong (UOW) said.
A field of bleached coral on the Great Barrier Reef. Ove Hoegh-Guldberg
The research team, led by Dr. Benjamin Henley — a professor and honorary fellow at University of Melbourne — used geochemical data from previously collected coral cores in the region for the temperature reconstructions. They also looked at sea surface temperature simulations with and without the effects of climate change using climate models and found that the rising temperatures were the result of the human-caused climate crisis.
“When I plotted the 2024 data point, I had to triple check my calculations – it was off the charts – far above the previous record high in 2017. I could almost not believe it. Tragically, mass coral bleaching has occurred yet again this year,” Henley said in the press release.
Five of the six warmest years on record coincide with the recent Coral Sea mass bleaching events. The sea experienced the highest temperatures in 400 years in 2017, 2020 and 2024, with this year being the warmest by a wide margin. The next warmest three years were in 2004, 2016 and 2022.
“Climate model analysis confirms that human influence on the climate system is responsible for the rapid warming in recent decades. This attribution, together with the recent ocean temperature extremes, post-1900 warming trend and observed mass coral bleaching, shows that the existential threat to the GBR ecosystem from anthropogenic climate change is now realized,” the authors of the study wrote.
Last week, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee decided not to list the Great Barrier Reef as in danger, but scientists have said that, based on the new evidence, the reef is definitely at risk.
“In the absence of rapid, coordinated and ambitious global action to combat climate change, we will likely witness the demise of one of Earth’s most spectacular natural wonders,” Henley said. “When you compile all of the evidence we have, it’s the inevitability of the impacts on the reef in the coming years that really gets to me.”
Professor Helen McGregor, co-author of the study and a geologist and climate change researcher with UOW’s Environmental Futures, said urgent action is necessary to prevent the devastation of one of Earth’s most important ecosystems.
“There is no ‘if, but or maybe’—the ocean temperatures during these bleaching events are unprecedented in the past four centuries,” McGregor said in the press release. “The Great Barrier Reef is facing catastrophe if anthropogenic climate change is not immediately addressed. The very corals that have lived for hundreds of years and that gave us the data for our study are themselves under serious threat.”
UOW co-authors Ariella Arzey and professor Helen McGregor. Michael Gray
Henley said tackling the climate crisis is the best way to help protect the GBR.
“We have many of the key solutions to stop climate change; what we need is a step change in the level of coordinated national and international action to transition to net zero,” Henley said. “We can never lose hope. Every fraction of a degree of warming we avoid will lead to a better future for the human and natural systems of our planet. We hope that our study equips policymakers with more evidence to pursue deeper cuts in greenhouse gas emissions internationally.”
The study, “Highest ocean heat in four centuries places Great Barrier Reef in danger,” was published in the journal Nature.
The post Warmest Sea Surface Temperatures in 400 Years Present ‘Existential Threat’ to Great Barrier Reef, Study Finds appeared first on EcoWatch.
https://www.ecowatch.com/ocean-temperatures-great-barrier-reef-threat.html
Aristotle, who saw purpose and design in everything, wrote in several different works that “Nature does nothing in vain.” We reply that regardless of purpose, nature does everything with grace; we are fortunate to witness the miraculous results of 13.4 billion years of experimentation.
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Last Updated on January 21, 2026
Picture this: Your laptop of three years decides it’s going to conk out. What’s the most sustainable solution? Seeing if you can get it repaired, of course.
Fighting planned obsolescence is a full time job, and it occurs with way more than just electronics.
But lets say you can’t repair your laptop for some unforeseeable reason…what then? You recycle it of course.
Computers don’t belong in landfills, nor do most conventional curbside recycling programs accept them. So how do you recycle computers? Here’s everything you need to know about computer recycling (and why we need to dispose of them properly).
why should you recycle computers?
First, lets tackle the reason we should bother to recycle computers. Computers are made up of several components – and when we dump them out, they become notorious for leaking toxins and carcinogens into the environment. This poses a risk for humans, wildlife, and soil quality alike.
However, if we recycle computers, all those components get a second shot at life. There are several valuable materials in our old computers that can be used to make new electronics, thus reducing waste and pollution.
According to the EPA, recycling 1 million laptops saves enough energy to power ~3,500 U.S. homes for a year.
And if that’s not reason enough – improperly disposed computers can put your personal or business files at risk of being recovered. And that can escalate to data breaches or reputation damage (yikes).
how do I get rid of my old computer?
To get rid of your old computer, you must first back up your data, sign out of all accounts, wipe & destroy the hard drive, then recycle the computer through local e-waste centers or retailers with take-back programs (Best Buy, Staples, etc.).
To wipe a hard drive, be sure to back up any important data first. Use built-in tools like ‘reset this PC’ or check with your computer’s manufacturer to see specific instructions. For example, here’s how to wipe a Dell hard drive and erase a Mac hard drive.
For absolutely no chance of your data being recovered, it’s always best to remove and destroy the hard drive, if possible. Here’s a guide to destroying a hard drive safely.
Once the hard drive is no longer an issue, you can recycle computers through a number of drop-off or mail-in options.
drop off:
- Local e-waste recycling events (make sure to ask if your specific computer will be accepted in advance). Check your local .gov to see when your next one will be!
- Best Buy accepts various desktops, laptops, and tablets, including some accessories. There’s a limit of 3 items per household per day. They charge a small fee for recycling monitors.
- Staples accepts computers & Macs. They charge a fee for monitors. When you recycle, you get rewards with their store!
- Use ERI’s recycle search and find recycling locations near you. Just type in “computer recycling” and your zip code to learn what your options are.
mail-in:
- Several manufacturers will accept mail-in recycling for their computer models. Dell and HP have trade-in programs for computers that meet certain standards, as well as recycling options for lesser functioning computers of any brand. Apple also accepts trade-in and recycling for several devices, including computers.
- Green Citizen offers free mail-in recycling for laptops, desktops, and tablets, but there may be fees for data destruction.
Most of these places will also accept computer accessories, like keyboards, mice, etc. But be sure to double check!
should you remove the hard drive from a computer before recycling?
Yes, always remove the hard drive before recycling. It’s best to wipe it, then remove it and destroy it. Because even a wiped hard drive can still be recovered, to an extent.
Even if you empty the recycling bin on your computer it doesn’t guarantee that the content is gone because the computer marks that data space to be overwritten with new data. So if the data hasn’t been overwritten, data recovery software can pick it up.
does best buy erase hard drives when recycling?
Best Buy offers tips and advice on wiping hard drives and data for Windows computers prior to drop off, but won’t actually do it for you. It’s best to go prepared by wiping/destroying your hard drive first.
So, what did you think of this guide to recycling computers? Let me know in the comments!
The post Can You Recycle Computers? appeared first on Going Zero Waste.
Green Living
Best of Sustainability In Your Ear: Carbonfuture is Building the Trust Infrastructure for Carbon Removal
Read a transcript of this episode. Subscribe to receive transcripts: Learn more.
The carbon removal industry stands at a crucial crossroads. While cutting emissions remains essential, avoiding catastrophic warming now requires pulling billions of tons of CO2 from the atmosphere permanently. But as this nascent field grapples with questions of legitimacy, scalability, and accountability, a critical challenge remains: How do we build the infrastructure needed to track, verify, and certify that carbon has actually been removed and stays removed? Meet Hannes Junginger-Gestrich, CEO of Carbonfuture, a company helping define the monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) infrastructure that could transform carbon removal from scattered efforts into a functioning ecosystem. Launched five years ago, Carbonfuture has emerged as what CDR.fyi describes as “the largest facilitator of durable carbon removal” by volume. The company’s digital platform integrates data across the carbon removal life cycle, connecting diverse approaches like biochar, enhanced rock weathering, and direct air capture with buyers seeking to meet climate commitments. “We are probably more the crowd, the ground keepers in a stadium that makes sure that everything is provided properly,” Hannes explains, using a sports analogy to describe their role: “We are the ground keepers in a stadium [who ensure] the players have a playing field that’s in shape and no one gets hurt, and the audience can come and they pay their tickets and have a good experience.”
The MRV infrastructure becomes crucial as corporate demand for verified carbon removal grows and trust becomes currency. One of the most interesting aspects of the conversation centers on balancing data confidentiality with transparency needs, particularly when collecting data along industrial value chains from agricultural residue producers to biochar processors to end users. Perhaps most telling is Junginger-Gestrich’s unwavering commitment to scientific rigor over short-term economic gains: “We never had to trade off between rigor and allowing a not so good project on our platform for economic reasons. We always lean to the scientific and rigorous side.” This philosophy has guided Carbonfuture’s work with leading buyers like Microsoft, helping develop increasingly sophisticated approaches to carbon removal verification. While Junginger-Gestrich expresses concern about delayed emission reductions globally, he remains optimistic about carbon removal scaling: “I think we will be on the path to the gigatons by 2040 for sure.” His vision emphasizes ecosystem thinking over vertical integration, aiming to drive down costs while creating network effects that could accelerate the entire field. As governments worldwide grapple with climate policy, the monitoring, reporting, and verification systems companies like Carbonfuture are developing now may well determine the success of our collective effort to reverse climate change. You can learn more about Carbonfuture at carbonfuture.earth.
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Editor’s Note: This episode originally aired on September 1, 2025.
The post Best of Sustainability In Your Ear: Carbonfuture is Building the Trust Infrastructure for Carbon Removal appeared first on Earth911.
https://earth911.com/podcast/sustainability-in-your-ear-carbonfuture-is-building-the-trust-infrastructure-for-carbon-removal/
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