Climate change puts barrier reef at greater risk

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FRANCE: The Great Barrier Reef could collapse under the pressure of climate change if local threats are not reduced, scientists are warning.
A team of international researchers have singled out dredging and coastal development as two major non-climate change threats to the reef.
The reef is one of three world heritage sites Queensland University professor Terry Hughes and 12 other researchers from across the globe have been studying closely, and the news is not good.
“It’s an unfolding disaster,” Prof Hughes said.
“The reef needs less pollution from agricultural runoff and port dredging, less carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels, and less fishing pressure.
“Ironically, Australia is still planning to develop new coal mines and expand coal ports, despite global efforts to transition quickly towards renewable energy.”
Queensland’s new Labor government is pushing for the expansion of dredging at the Abbot Point coal terminal, south of Townsville.
Prof Hughes said this would further weaken the reef’s ability to cope with ocean acidification and coral bleaching, both caused by carbon emissions.
The researchers, whose study has been published in the journal Science, also examined the Amazon rainforest and Spain’s Donana wetlands.
Prof Hughes is the director of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University in Townsville.