Oz govt urged to act on reef pollution damage

Ian Woods -

The Australian government has been urged to act quickly to tackle carbon emissions, or face catastrophic consequences for the country's greatest natural treasure.

A new report says without prompt action there could be widespread flooding along the coast, and irreparable damage to the Great Barrier Reef.

The 1,500-mile stretch of coral reef is one of the seven natural wonders of the world, and the only living thing which can be seen from space, covering an area larger than the British Isles.

There is still scepticism in Australia about climate change, and strong opposition to efforts to tackle pollution.

But there is growing concern about the effect of rising global temperatures which appear to cause stress to the coral, causing bleaching. It can eventually cause the coral to die.

Jacqui Shiels, a marine biologist who helps tourists explore the reef, said: "The only thing keeping the reef here is the fact that corals are growing all the time.

"If the growth is slower than the erosion, then the reef starts to break up.

"The other problem is acidification which occurs because the carbon dioxide dissolves in the sea water and is makes it more acid.

"That makes the reef more fragile, and more prone to damage from cyclones."

And because one of the other likely consequences of climate change is more frequent and more powerful storms in the Coral Sea, the reef risks further damage.

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