New Report: Reef Recovery Requires Climate Action

Climate Council

Australia's Coral Reefs Under Threat From Climate Change Climate Council Our new report found that rising global ocean temperatures, driven by climate change, has been the cause of an extremely severe bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef. DOWNLOAD THE REPORT KEY FINDINGS: 1) The longest global coral bleaching event on record is underway due to record breaking ocean temperatures driven by climate change and El Niño. Australia's iconic reefs, particularly the northern part of the Great Barrier Reef, are experiencing severe bleaching. Climate change – driven mainly by the burning of coal, oil and gas – has caused extreme ocean temperatures, making the bleaching on the GBR this year at least 175 times more likely. At present rates of climate change, this level of bleaching could occur every two years by the 2030s. An estimated 36% of the world's coral reefs have been affected by major bleaching and nearly all reefs have experienced some thermal stress. Climate change also threatens fish, crustaceans and other species that rely on the reefs as habitat. 2) Coral reefs are among the most biologically diverse and economically valuable ecosystems on Earth, but they are under threat from climate change. The Great Barrier Reef is a multi-billion dollar economic asset. Its value-added economic contribution to the Australian economy was $5.7 billion in 2011-12, supporting 69,000 jobs. About 500 million people worldwide rely on coral reefs for their food and livelihoods, which represent an economic asset worth an astounding $1 trillion. Recovery could be impossible for many of the reefs currently affected by severe bleaching if climate change is not arrested. 3) The future of coral reefs around the world depends on how much and how fast we reduce greenhouse gas emissions now and in the coming years and decades. At the Paris UNFCCC conference on climate change (COP21) in December 2015, the world's nations pledged ambitious emission cuts in order to limit global warming to well below 2°C with a target of 1.5°C in the long-term. The pledges from COP21 need to be much more ambitious as the full implementation of current commitments would still see average global temperatures rise above 3°C. Australia has a critical role to play in the global effort to reduce fossil fuel emissions and protect reefs like the Great Barrier Reef.

A new report today has revealed the influence of climate change on the Great Barrier Reef and provides strong scientific evidence that future bleaching events are likely to become more frequent and severe.
The comprehensive report, reviewed by international experts, found that rising global ocean temperatures, driven by climate change, has been the cause of an extremely severe bleaching event.
This event has affected 93% of individual reefs and many reefs in the north have been bleached for the first time.
At present rates of climate change, this level of bleaching could occur every two years by the mid 2030s and the world's coral reefs are unlikely to be able to cope.
"Recently, we have seen some serious smoke and mirrors about the ability of the reef to recover," report author Professor Will Steffen said.
"The fact is, as bleaching events get closer together and more severe, reefs will struggle to survive.
"Some parts of the reef currently experiencing bleaching may be able to recover, provided that they are not repeatedly and frequently bleached in the future. This is why tackling climate change is critical to the long-term future of the reef.
"Depending on how quickly the record-breaking ocean temperatures wane, the reef may be able to partly heal in some areas in the short-term. But in the long-term, the reef's capacity to recover will depend on how much and how fast we reduce our greenhouse gas emissions in the next few years.
"Recovery could be impossible for many of the reefs currently affected if climate change is not arrested."

Professor Will Steffen

Australia's coral reefs are very unlikely to recover in the long-term if we continue to burn coal, which is driving the increasing global temperatures, the report found.
Global emissions must be trending down by 2020 at the latest to save the world's coral reefs. While countries like the US are now reducing their emissions, Australia's are rising.
"We are more than halfway through the critical decade for action to stabilise the climate and reduce the risks of climate change. Scientists have been warning the world about the risks from climate change for more than 30 years. Now it is crunch time," co-author Professor Lesley Hughes said.
"The window to limit global warming and preserve Australia's coral reefs is running out.
"The decisions made in the next federal term of government and the current term of the Queensland government will be critical to the long-term survival of the reef."
"It is vitally important that Australia plays its part in global efforts to tackle climate change."
Professor Hughes said attempts to improve water quality on the Great Barrier Reef will be in vain without action on climate change.
"The bottom line is that water quality improvements, though welcome, will not save the Great Barrier Reef. The only way to do that is to rapidly transition our energy systems away from polluting fossil fuels towards modern, clean renewables," she said.

Links

• ALERT: Climate Change and Coral Bleaching
• The Heat Marches On