Largest coral reef in danger due to demand for coal

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Arguably, giving a description of the Great Barrier Reef is unnecessary. It is a landscape that includes a spectacular setting unique in the world. The reef, which consists of more than 1,500 miles along the northeast coast of Australia, is one of the most complex and rich ecosystems, housing thousands of species of flora and fauna.

The reef is recognized as one of the places with outstanding universal value. However, it is in danger and has been for the last 40 years: more than half of the coral reef has already been lost thanks to the global hunger for coal.

In addition to facing - like all places in the world at this point - the threat posed by climate change.

One of the direct consequences produced by climate change is ocean acidification, as well as rising temperatures that restrict coral growth and increase the risk of mass coral bleaching that could affect marine life through change or destruction.

Climate change amplifies damage caused by other threats to the reef, such as water pollution and coastal development.

Australia itself is one of the largest coal exporters and is committed to massively increasing coal production for export, as evidenced by the opening of mega mines in an area called the Galilee Basin.

Just one mine from this project is estimated to produce Europe Cell Phone Number List up to 60 million tons of coal per year for 60 years while burned in power plants, accounting for four percent or more of the world's total carbon emissions. in the middle of the century, according to Noni Austin, Project Coordinator at the environmental organization Earthjustice.

As if that were not enough, the coal export proposals also require dredging that would cause damage to the barrier reef to expand coal terminals on the reef coast, as well as industrial shipping through the reef, which increases the risk of maritime accidents.



One of the immediate actions that Earthjustice envisions can be taken is for the World Heritage Committee, which administers the Heritage Convention, to consider placing the reef on the “List of Heritage in Danger,” which would help improve protection. to the reef.

So far the Committee has not issued the recommendation, despite letting you know that the protection and surveillance that exists in this area is poor, but it has until the end of June to report its final decision on this appointment.

“Earthjustice, in collaboration with lawyers from Environmental Justice Australia, analyzed the evidence and found that the reef is clearly in danger, meeting six of the eight criteria for listing a site in danger, according to the Convention of World Heritage and in fact, for a place to comply with one of these points, it would have to be enough to enter the list,” says Austin, also a lawyer in Australia.

That is why the activists asked that if they seek to consider World Heritage Sites, they must also face the most serious threats, which is why they asked to secure this place and its vulnerability.

If we want to have any chance of protecting the reef – and other parts of the world – for the health of our planet and other generations, we have to reduce our hunger for coal,” said the Australian activist.