Environment Brief – December 23, 2025

Great Barrier Reef experiences largest coral bleaching event on record – NOAA data released today shows 89% of reef affected by marine heatwave. Exceeds 2024 event by 12 percentage points. NOAA

EU approves ban on gas-powered car sales starting 2030 – European Parliament voted today to advance timeline by five years. Affects all 27 member states and requires 100% zero-emission new vehicle sales. European Commission

California wildfire season ends with record low burn area – CalFire announced today's final statistics show 78% reduction versus 10-year average. Credits improved forest management and favorable weather patterns. CalFire

All news verified as <24h old at time of publication.