Calls for climate action over Great Barrier Reef bleaching

Environmental groups on Monday urged greater action on climate change after the government declared the highest alert level over an epidemic of coral bleaching in the pristine northern reaches of Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The Australian government said Sunday that corals had turned white and grey in parts of the World Heritage-listed marine park, with the bleaching "severe" in northern areas. Environmental group WWF said large sections of coral near Lizard Island were drained of all colour