91% of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef has recently been affected by bleaching. This was announced by the Australian authorities. A very alarming rate. This is the fourth bleaching episode since 2016. But this time it happened at a time when it shouldn’t have happened.
“It’s heartbreaking, it’s deeply troubling, it shows that our (Great) Barrier Reef is indeed in very serious trouble.” Simon Bradshaw, Director of Research at the Climate Council, does not hide the scientists’ concerns about the fading of 91% of the Great Barrier Reef.
The change is related to the ongoing heat wave of the southern summer. There have been other episodes of this nature before. But it is the first to occur during the La Niña climate phenomenon, which normally cools the waters of the Pacific. The heat converts algal components, which nourish and color the coral, into toxins. These spit out poisonous algae. They are starved, weakened and turning white. The survival of the weakened corals depends on limiting global warming, as Simon Bradshaw explains using the latest report from the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change):
With a warming of 2°C, we would lose almost all tropical coral reefs. If we manage to limit warming to 1.5°C if possible, we will give parts of the reef a chance to survive. So it’s not too late. We must do everything we can
Simon Bradshaw, Director of Research at the Climate Council
…through a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, a political issue
Specifically, we must drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The scientist is categorical. “We need to roughly halve global emissions over this period. In Australia, given the incredible opportunity we have for new clean industries, we should aim for a 75% reduction in our emissions by 2030 if it does its part. “
With a view to the general elections on May 21, the Conservative government is committed to reducing emissions by 26 to 28%. Labor opposition proposes 43%. In June, UNESCO was able to classify the Great Barrier Reef as an endangered area. Unfortunately for Canberra, which has nevertheless launched a protection plan.
At 348,000 km2, the Great Barrier Reef is the largest such area in the world. It represents 10% of the world’s coral reef ecosystems (ie 2,500 reefs). These are home to 400 species of coral, 1,500 species of fish and 4,000 species of molluscs.
Below is Bruno Sat’s report:
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