In the Wake of Global Tipping Point Warning, Green Fins Initiative Drives Reduction in Local Environmental Threats to Corals
The Reef-World Foundation, international coordinator of the UN Environment Programme’s Green Fins initiative, have launched its 2024–2025 Impact Report, detailing significant progress in mitigating local threats to coral reefs against a deepening climate crisis. The report reveals that dive and snorkelling operators committed to the Green Fins Code of Conduct achieved an overall reduction of 26% in environmental threats across their operations during the reporting period.
The release comes just weeks after the Global Tipping Points Report 2025 declared that warm-water coral reefs have passed the first major climate tipping point. Reef-World’s strategy, focusing on local threats from the marine tourism industry, is delivering tangible results that offer hope for coral reef resilience.
An achievement highlighted in the report is the milestone reached by six Green Fins Members, who achieved the zero risk score according to the Green Fins Code of Conduct. This is a powerful indicator of exemplary best practice, fundamentally changing the narrative by proving a net-positive environmental impact is achievable, protecting the very resources these businesses depend on.
The Six Green Fins Environmental Best Performers:
- Evolution Diving Resort (Philippines)
- Ceningan Divers (Indonesia)
- Scuba Junkie Sipadan (Malaysia)
- Bubbles Dive Centre (Malaysia)
- Camel Dive Club and Hotel (Egypt)
- Slow Dive Casa Chihuahua (Dominican Republic)
Chloe Harvey, Executive Director of The Reef-World Foundation, reflected on the urgency and potential of the programme:
“For more of the past two decades, we have often felt like we were running behind wildfire — mass tourism blazing ahead, leaving mass destruction in its wake. But today, we know better. Six Green Fins Members have now achieved 0% risk score, proving that it is possible. This milestone is not an ending — it’s a beginning. We can transform mass tourism into a driver of thriving, pristine environments, giving these critical ecosystems the space to survive the deeper challenges of climate change.”
Key Impact Highlights (2024–2025):
The Green Fins network continued its growth and delivered measurable environmental improvements, including:
- 26% overall reduction in environmental threats observed among Green Fins member operations.
- 31% reduction in threats related to single-use plastics, recycling, and proper trash disposal.
- 16% reduction in direct diver contact with fragile coral reefs.
- 346 Active Members spanning 61 countries and 201 diving hotspots globally.
- 1,700 dive and snorkelling staff received in-person environmental training.
- 346,000 tourists were reached with high-quality conservation messaging.
Vic Hancock Fell, Chair of Trustees of The Reef-World Foundation, reflected on the global context:
“The crisis facing coral reefs is severe and immediate, and our work is more urgent than ever, especially given the accelerating scale and pace of climate-related impacts. The role of small, agile organisations like Reef-World working directly with communities, governments and industry to protect reef ecosystems is vital. To continue this work at scale, we need a more joined-up, global response that recognises the urgency of the climate crisis and the critical need to fund frontline conservation efforts.”
The charity is actively exploring new funding models and strategic partnerships to scale the Green Fins initiative, noting the immense opportunity: the programme still reaches just about 4% of the estimated global market of dive and snorkelling operators. The report stresses that the potential to scale conservation impact is enormous and urgently needed.
The full Reef-World 2024–2025 Impact Report is available for download now.
