Environmental groups Monday urged greater action on climate change after the government sounded the alarm over severe coral bleaching in the pristine northern reaches of Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The government said Sunday that corals had turned white and gray in parts of the WorldHeritage-listed marine park with the bleaching "severe" in the northern areas. Environmental group WWF said large sections were drained of all color and fighting for survival.

Groups alarmed at reef bleaching. (2016, March 22). Manila Standard, p. B8.