Coral Bleaching Futures: Downscaled Projections of Bleaching Conditions for the World’s Coral Reefs, Implications of Climate Policy and Management Responses

The purpose of this report is threefold: 1. to present downscaled projections of coral bleaching conditions (i.e. exposure to the primary climate threat to coral reefs) at a spatial scale that enables use of the data in management planning, conservation planning and in support of other decisions influencing coral reefs and reef use; 2. to evaluate the implications of the Paris Agreement as well as failure to achieve its goal, by comparing the projected timing of annual severe bleaching between emission scenarios RCP4.5 and 8.5; and 3. provide public access to data as well as main findings in order to enable their application in management planning, policy formulation, and as education and outreach tools.