The Fourth Global Coral Bleaching Event was officially confirmed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) on April 15, 2024, with press releases and a coordinated call to arms to address the impacts of climate change (https://icriforum.org/4gbe/). As the International Coral Reef Society (ICRS), the principal association of coral reef scientists, we would be remiss not to comment on this unfortunate milestone. Given our central role in the study of coral reefs, we are compelled to join the increasing call for action against this pressing environmental challenge.