Media’s coral reef madness is barrier to good policy

News about health of Australian coral is always bad even though the data shows Great Barrier Reef at record levels. Consistent bad news prods governments to waste trillions on non-existent ‘disasters’

By Bjorn Lomborg, National Post, Oct. 21, 2025

Reading the news, you would believe the Great Barrier Reef — the aquatic wonder off Australia’s coast — is on its deathbed, bleached beyond recognition by climate change. Recent headlines shouted in unison: “Great Barrier Reef suffers worst coral decline on record.” Environmental journalists are in panic mode about irreversible damage. But this is advocacy campaigning from media who consistently tell a negative story whatever the data say.… Read more