Mon Sep 09 15:29:23 UTC 2024: ## Great Barrier Reef Likely Doomed by Climate Change: Scientist
**Auckland, New Zealand** – A leading Australian climate scientist has delivered a bleak warning about the future of the Great Barrier Reef, stating that it has likely suffered a “death blow” from extensive coral bleaching.
Dr. Joëlle Gergis of the University of Melbourne, speaking at the Climate Change and Business Conference in Auckland, pointed to the 80% bleaching event in April, the most widespread damage ever recorded. She warned that the reef’s capacity to adapt to climate change is severely limited.
“It’s just not possible for some ecosystems to adapt to climate change,” she said. “It’s dangerous to pretend that they can.”
The world’s leading climate science body predicts that only 1% of coral reefs will remain after global warming reaches 2 degrees Celsius. We are already at 1 degree Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
Gergis stressed that solutions to curb emissions already exist, but political will is lacking. “We are failing to address the problem… in fact, we are continuing to do harm,” she lamented.
New Zealand, despite experiencing less pronounced warming than Australia, is still projected to face double the warming it has already experienced by 2100.
Gergis also cautioned against reliance on carbon capture technology, calling it unreliable and risky. She urged a complete halt to new emissions, stating that continued reliance on methane (natural gas) would further exacerbate climate change.
The news follows recent reports from Australian scientists who found only a few relatively healthy areas on the reef. UNESCO, the United Nations agency for education, science, and culture, has cited mass bleaching and increased water acidity as major threats to the reef.
The dire assessment of the Great Barrier Reef’s future comes at a time when Australia’s government has taken a more decisive stance on climate action, shifting from skepticism to committing its entire economy to addressing the crisis.
Westpac’s head of Sustainable Finance, Joanna Silver, highlighted the potential opportunities for New Zealand businesses, suggesting that Australia’s shift could make it a more attractive location for companies unless New Zealand also steps up its efforts.
Silver warned that New Zealand risks falling behind in the race to address climate change, potentially losing market access as global partners accelerate their own efforts.
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