25% CO2 Emissions Cut to Keep Great Barrier Reef

A new warning was issued on November 17th 2009 on the state of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the impact that climate change could have on it in future years, and what needs to be done around the world to safeguard it.  According to prominent marine scientists, unless developed nations the world-over are able to reduce CO2 emissions by as much as 90 per cent, Australia’s world-famous vast coral reef network faces the prospect of being wiped out completely.

Great Barrier Reef: Climate Change

“We've seen the evidence with our own eyes”, James Cook University’s Professor Terry Hughes – one of 13 Australian scientists involved in studying the Reef -  stated today.  “Climate change is already impacting the Great Barrier Reef.”  Worldwide CO2 emissions would need to reduce by a minimum of 25 per cent over the coming decade if the threat of damaging the Great Barrier Reef beyond the point of recovery is to be bypassed, Hughes added.  Even if these emissions cuts were achieved, though, the Reef’s survival chance could only be set at around 50 per cent, he said.

“This is our Great Barrier Reef”, Ken Baldwin, another scientist, asserted in comments made to members of the Australian parliament.  “If Australia doesn't show leadership by reducing emissions to save the reef, who will?”

The Great Barrier Reef extends to over 133,000 square miles in size and is viewable from outside the earth’s atmosphere. 

Great Barrier Reef Extinction

As far as the UN’s IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) is concerned, the point where the Great Barrier Reef becomes “functionally extinct” could be just decades away, and a process known as coral bleaching could become a regular, yearly event within coming years.  Coral bleaching takes place when factors like temperature rises conspire to kill off coral organisms – a white skeleton being all that remains one this has occurred.

Per Capita CO2 Emissions: Australia

Based on its level of per capita CO2 emissions, Australia can be ranked as one of the world’s most polluting countries.  Its current 2020 emissions reduction pledge is a mere five per cent below year 2000 levels.  More stringent cuts are in the pipeline, but these depend on the outcome of the Copenhagen climate change talks scheduled to take place in Denmark next month. 

See also:

Freeze Coral to Stop Climate Change Impact