Warning on Great Barrier Reef bleaching and other nature and climate stories you need to read this week

Following a warning last week about bleaching on the world's coral reefs, researchers in Australia have added their own, after finding coral bleaching in the far northern parts of the Great Barrier Reef.

Scientists from the James Cook University said they had only found a few relatively healthy areas, mainly in deeper waters.

"It was quite devastating to see just how much bleaching there was, particularly in the shallows... (but) they were all still at the stage of bleaching where they could still recover as long as the water temperatures decline in time," lead researcher Maya Srinivasan told Reuters.

Bleaching is caused by warmer water temperatures. It is possible for bleached coral to recover, if temperatures cool, but prolonged exposure to higher temperatures will cause it to die.

The European Commission has warned that the European Union needs to step up preparations for climate change risks. Rising temperatures carry risks from food security to financial stability, the commission warned.

It comes in response to an 11 March report from the European Environment Agency (EEA) which called on EU nations to prepare for 'catastrophic risks'. For example, by the end of the century, rising sea levels could trigger coastal flooding causing damage in excess of 1 trillion Euros per year, the EEA said.

The Commission didn't propose any new major policies ahead of EU Parliament elections in the summer, but said preparing for worsening climate change needed to be factored into all relevant spending in the bloc.

Germany is on track to reach its 2030 climate targets, according to projections from its Federal Environment Agency.

Conversely, a report has warned that California needs to rapidly accelerate emissions reductions to reach its own 2030 target. The report from consulting firm Beacon Economics and thinktank Next 10 said annual carbon emissions reductions need to triple.

Methane emissions from the energy sector continued to rise in 2023, despite commitments to drive reductions, the International Energy Agency has warned.

A report from a group of European scientists has said there are at least 3,000 more chemicals in plastics than previously estimated.

The EU Parliament has passed new rules around pollution from livestock farms, but the law has been weakened compared to initial proposals from the EU Commission.

The EU has also provisionally agreed new rules around packaging waste and single-use plastic, for example supermarket bags for fruit. There are exemptions for certain sectors.

A new University of Oxford study has used fossil records to better understand some of the factors that make animals more at risk of extinction. It's hoped the research could help identify more at-risk species today.

Further Oxford research has found that the enzyme rubisco, essential for the fixation of carbon dioxide during photosynthesis, is slowly getting more efficient.

Alternative proteins are growing in popularity as a result of their potential health and sustainability benefits. Here’s how tech tools are helping boost their appeal.

The EU is a frontrunner in international climate efforts, but a new report finds that it will likely miss most of its green objectives. These are the five key fronts the EU must prioritize to meet its targets.

Forest restoration needs long-term approaches such as the adoption of a 100-year plan and Indigenous multi-gen leadership to help reach conservation goals. Here’s why.