Category: Great Barrier Reef

Great Barrier Reef

Great Barrier Reef Fantasies: The Morrison Government’s Electoral Ploy – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Such funding promises as that of the Morrison government are decidedly narrow, the stuff of spreadsheet wonks and committees. These are almost always doomed to failure. Throw money at the problem in isolation, tinker with that deficiency, and ignore the more calamitous, expansive picture. John C. Day and Scott F. Heron, both of James Cook University, summarise the point: “While the new funding is meant to address other threats to the natural wonder and may improve its resilience, failing to address the climate threat is both disappointing and nonsensical.” The picture painted by Day and Heron is bleak. In December 2021, the ocean temperatures on the Reef proved to be the warmest on record. The risk of a fourth mass bleaching event in this decade was very much a serious proposition. Both the Commonwealth and Queensland governments have also shown an appetite for approving new coal and gas projects, which bring with them a greater expansion of ports and increased shipping. This is despite warnings stretching back years, including a 2013 declaration by concerned scientists about industrial development of the Great Barrier Reef coast. “As scientists, we therefore are concerned about the additional pressures that will be exerted by expansion of coastal ports and industrial development accompanied by a projected near-doubling in shipping, major coastal reclamation works, large-scale seabed dredging and dredge soil disposal.”

 

Source: Great Barrier Reef Fantasies: The Morrison Government’s Electoral Ploy – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Great Barrier Reef

Barrier Reef funding smells like another Morrison Government rort

Saving the Great Barrier Reef should be a priority for our Federal Government, but how can Australia be rescued from the clutches of Morrison, the L-NP, and News Corp?

This latest round of funding is to be spent over a ten-year period and is targeted at marginal seats held by the L-NP, adjacent to the Reef, and is of course conditional on the L-NP being re-elected. The current L-NP Government led by Scott Morrison has a reputation for blatant pork-barreling and rorting public money while electioneering.

Source: Barrier Reef funding smells like another Morrison Government rort

Great Barrier Reef

The outlook for coral reefs remains grim unless we cut emissions fast — new research

Our research, published today, paints a grim picture. We estimate that even under the most optimistic emissions scenarios, we’ll see dramatic reductions in coral reef growth globally. The good news is that 63% of all reefs in this emissions scenario will still be able to grow by 2100.

Source: The outlook for coral reefs remains grim unless we cut emissions fast — new research

Great Barrier Reef

Leaked documents show reef charity directors ‘unavailable’ for Senate scrutiny

SOS: Where is the ACNC? Why isn’t it investigating the lack of seeming tranparancy (ODT)

Three directors of a Great Barrier Reef charity entrusted with almost half a billion dollars in public money have refused to give evidence to a Senate inquiry scrutinising the controversial deal, raising the prospect they will be forced to appear.

Confidential Senate committee documents seen by Fairfax Media show that despite being offered five dates at which to attend the inquiry, the directors of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation say they are unavailable for questioning, variously citing overseas travel commitments, medical appointments, board meetings and other unspecified engagements.

The inquiry was launched following the Turnbull government’s decision to grant the small, business-focused charity $443 million to help rescue the reef. The foundation has previously said it would “fully co-operate” with the probe.

via Leaked documents show reef charity directors ‘unavailable’ for Senate scrutiny

Great Barrier Reef, Uncategorized

Cherry-picked charity to pocket at least $22.5 million in taxpayer funding for reef

Will the Charities Commissioner have reason to investigate this operation for it’s politicization?(ODT)

More than $22 million in taxpayer funds will be paid directly to a private foundation hand-picked by the Turnbull government to dispense Australia’s largest single Great Barrier Reef funding package, raising fresh questions over the controversial deal.

It has also emerged that the foundation will pocket interest earned on the record-large funding windfall, despite previous claims the interest would be directed back into projects to help rescue the natural wonder.

via Cherry-picked charity to pocket at least $22.5 million in taxpayer funding for reef

Great Barrier Reef

Great Barrier Reef valued at $56bn as report warns it’s ‘too big to fail’ | Environment | The Guardian

Deloitte Access Economics report says reef underpins 64,000 jobs and contributes $6.4bn to economy each year

Source: Great Barrier Reef valued at $56bn as report warns it’s ‘too big to fail’ | Environment | The Guardian

Great Barrier Reef

‘We can’t be passive bystanders’: Advisers call for dramatic re-think on Great Barrier Reef

The federal government’s expert panel warns the current strategy doesn’t address the gravest threat facing the Great Barrier Reef.

Source: ‘We can’t be passive bystanders’: Advisers call for dramatic re-think on Great Barrier Reef

Great Barrier Reef

The Australian’s Great Barrier Reef editorial: A misrepresention of science

A scientist, misquoted in The Australian, says the facts were misrepresented in the newspaper’s Great Barrier Reef bleaching editorial. DeSmogBlog’s Graham Readfearn reports.

Source: The Australian’s Great Barrier Reef editorial: A misrepresention of science

Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef Is Screwed If Climate Change Continues

A new study warns coral’s ability to withstand bleaching would suffer in warmer oceans.

Source: The Great Barrier Reef Is Screwed If Climate Change Continues

Great Barrier Reef

Great Barrier Reef coral bleaching at 95 per cent in northern section, aerial survey reveals – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Aerial surveys show that 95 per cent of all northern reefs are suffering from severe coral bleaching.

Source: Great Barrier Reef coral bleaching at 95 per cent in northern section, aerial survey reveals – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Great Barrier Reef

Great Barrier Reef coral bleaching threat raised to highest level | Environment | The Guardian

Environment minister accused of omitting climate change as cause of bleaching after surveying death of coral in reef’s far north

Source: Great Barrier Reef coral bleaching threat raised to highest level | Environment | The Guardian

Great Barrier Reef

Great Barrier Reef protection plan ‘ignores the threat of climate change’

Great Barrier Reef

Scientists warn the government’s strategy is likely to prove ineffectual as ‘unless Australia cuts back on carbon dioxide emissions we won’t have much of a Great Barrier Reef left’

he Australian government’s multimillion dollar plan to halt the worrying decline of the Great Barrier Reef does nothing to address the leading threat of climate change and is likely to prove largely ineffectual, scientists have warned.

In its formal response to the Reef 2050 long-term sustainability plan, which was drawn up by the Australian and Queensland governments, the Australian Academy of Science states the strategy is “inadequate to achieve the goal of restoring or even maintaining the diminished outstanding universal value of the reef”.

A spokesman for Hunt said the 2050 reef plan is based on the “best available science to ensure it responds to new and emerging issues”.

“We have a clear plan and a strong commitment to ensure the reef is healthy and resilient – and we are making strong progress,” he said.

“The Great Barrier Reef remains an incredibly diverse and rich marine environment. We know the reef still retains the values for which it was listed as world heritage.

“The Australian and Queensland governments are jointly investing approximately $180m a year in the reef’s health – that’s billions of dollars over the next decade.”

Unesco’s world heritage committee will decide next year whether to place the Great Barrier Reef on its “in-danger” list. Unesco has called for port expansion to be limited in order to safeguard the health of the reef.