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 Editorials | Environmental | April 2007 
Climate Change to Decimate Great Barrier Reef: WWF
 Associated Press
| | The Great Barrier Reef is the planet's largest living structure, and not surprisingly is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world, but it faces a colourless future if the Australian government does not act quickly. |
The Great Barrier Reef faces a colourless future if the Australian government does not act quickly, a new report by conservation group WWF warns.
The report singles out 10 micro-regions across the globe already being affected by climate change and warns of bleak futures if action is not taken.
Queensland's Great Barrier Reef rates alongside the Amazon, melting glaciers in the Himalayas, and the Upper Yangtze river in China and is the only Australian region on the list.
WWF marine spokesman Richard Leck said if global emissions were not addressed, 97 per cent of the reef could be lost in repetitive annual bleachings by 2050, devastating the environment and the multi-billion dollar tourist industry.
"Essentially what we're saying is there's a certain amount of warming locked in which will result in more frequent and probably more severe bleaching events into the future," Mr Leck said today.
"Australia cannot expect other nations to help save the reef."
The report recommends the Australian government set emission targets which will peak and fall by 2010.
The targets would be below 20 to 30 per cent of 1990 levels by 2020 and 60 to 80 per cent below by 2050.
Nutrient, mud and chemical pollution run-off from farming the area was also identified in the report.
WWF's Australian water program leader Nick Heath said money was needed to improve farming practices and purchase environmentally sensitive land back that should be removed from farming to re-establish wetlands.
"The reef has survived for thousands of years, yet this generation of Australians risk losing it due to the twin threats of climate change and land-based pollution," Mr Heath said.
The WWF report comes as the world's top scientists in Brussels prepare to release the second of three reports, which warn of dire consequences from global warming, especially for poor nations and species diversity.
A spokeswoman for federal Environment and Water Resources Minister Malcolm Turnbull said Mr Turnbull was travelling and unavailable for comment on the findings and recommendations of the report.
The 10 regions most threatened by climate change:
- Great Barrier Reef and other coral reefs
- Chihuahua desert in Mexico and the US
- Hawksbill turtles in the Caribbean
- Valdivian temperate rainforests
- Tigers and people in the Indian Sundarbans
- The Upper Yangtze river in China
- The Amazon
- Wild salmon in the Bering Sea
- Melting glaciers in the Himalayas
- East African coastal forests |
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