Several conservation organisations are reporting that the Great Barrier Reef may have suffered yet another coral bleaching event, as climate change pushes water temperatures to dangerous levels.
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA), which recently revealed the Reef’s long-term outlook had deteriorated to ‘very poor’ for the first time ever, is expected to investigate possible bleaching in the north.
Climate Councillor Professor Lesley Hughes asks how much more can the reef take? ‘The repeated insults to the reefs’ integrity are tragic.
‘Everybody has been predicting there would be more bleaching,’ said Professor Hughes. ‘This news is not a surprise, but it is tragic nonetheless.’
Iconic Reef may have taken another hit
Professor Hughes said that just when we thought Australia could not possibly be hit with any more climate-driven crises, our iconic Reef may have taken another hit. ‘Climate change, driven by the burning of fossil fuels, is the number one threat to our Reef, and I have seen it first-hand.’
The Great Barrier Reef suffered back-to-back bleaching in 2016 and 2017. The 2016 bleaching event was made 175 times more likely due to intensifying climate change.
‘Climate change is not only threatening our Reef, but also the more than 60,000 workers and communities which depend on it and the $6 billion it contributes to the Australian economy. We must work to protect the tourism industry, which is already suffering at the hands of climate change,’ said Professor Hughes.
‘We must urgently phase out coal, oil and gas to give the Reef a fighting chance of survival. It’s not too late but we must act now.
‘Australia has already lost so much this summer: people, places and wildlife. We can’t afford to lose a national icon,’ she said.
We have federal & state governments
who refuse to listen. They have 1 god
only… oil-gas-coal.
Meanwhile bubbleboy ScoNO is happily rousting on The ALP for daring to publicly endorse ‘net zero emissions by 2050’. I’m no Reef expert but the way things are going I’d hazard a guess and say that Our Reef will be long gone before any ‘net zero’ target is attained.
…and now Nu Clear raising its ugly head as well
Obviously not a reef expert. Try Prof Peter Ridd who studied the reef for over 25years then you’ll understand all this is BS.
Exactly, Joachim. Quite a few of us
know a lot. Wage Peace!
David the mere mention of the expert scientist
Professor Peter Ridd , will send the lovees
In to meltdown! Yes david all will be revealed
In the next 12 months regarding the Barrier reef
Hysteria , Mr Ridd has exposed some very
Inaccurate science .unfortunately this will cost the taxpayer’s almost 1 million, and the University in Question that is taking Mr Ridd to the Highest
Court in the land and for What we ask ? This is on top of taxpayer grants given ..surely they would not
Loss the funding . Thats what this is all about right !
Hooked on taxpayer’s handouts! Win at any cost .
Prof Ridd states categorically that we have an environmental problem. He DOES NOT say that climate science is BS. He DOES state that danger to the GBR is not as high a priority as some other areas, and especially not from land sediment, pesticides and a number of other alleged threats. Instead, he corrects what he sees as errors in others’ research in a field he has great expertise in and the hype that our media likes to stir up. His views about the conclusions reached in some papers has put him at odds with JCU. As for “very inaccurate science”, I say not really. The data obtained was done with very good science, it was the conclusions reached that Prof Ridd found erroneous. He then questioned the system which allowed the conclusions to be reached, that got him into trouble with his employer. Courts have since ruled that his dismissal was unfair.
So is there really a problem with climate science, or is it with hierarchy and establishment that doesn’t like to be questioned?
As for those calling for an end to taxpayer funds….how do you think Prof Ridd got funding for his scientific research in the first place?
As for the reef and its longevity, well coral reefs have been around in Queensland for many millions of years and unless there in a mass extinction, they will be around for a long time to come.
Damo ? concur !
Professor Hughes consistently claims that burning fossil fuels is killing the reef with no evidence to support his ridiculous claims. He is on the climate change bandwagon using his qualifications to bamboozle the public with unsupported alarmist claptrap. Why didn’t bleaching occur in 2018 and 2019. It’s because coral bleaching happens and has always happened to some degree and he has been sitting at his desk for 3 years waiting for a report on a piece of bleached coral so that he can scream coral bleaching from the rooftops and get government funding for crazy projects that get him out of his office. Hughes contradicted the claims of many other scientists who studied the coral bleaching in 2016 and 2017 and who found that extra low el nino tides coinciding with a few very hot days was the real reason for coral bleaching. A common occurrence in Queensland.