Australian PM pledges $703M more to protect Great Barrier Reef
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has pledged an additional AUD 1 billion ($703M) to protect the Great Barrier Reef. "We are backing the health of the reef and the economic future of tourism operators, hospitality providers, and Queensland communities... at the heart of the reef economy," said Morrison. The funding will add to the existing AUD 2 billion ($1.4B) designated to protect the reef.
- The fresh package was announced to keep the enormous network of corals on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
- The move comes ahead of the Australian general election in May, in which Morrison is aiming to retain power and win the crucial Queensland seats.
- Bleaching has impacted 98% of the reef since 1998, while only a small percentage of it remains unaffected, said a study.
The Climate Council, an advocacy organization, compared the latest financing announcement to applying "a Band-Aid on a broken leg." "Unless you are cutting emissions deeply this decade the situation on the reef will only get worse," said the Council's Lesley Hughes, professor of biology, Macquarie University. The expert said the government is adding to the problem by funding fossil fuels that devastate the climate.
During the heatwaves in 2016, 2017, and 2020, the Great Barrier Reef saw mass bleaching events, leaving many corals struggling to survive. Bleaching occurs when healthy corals expel algae from their tissues due to spikes in ocean temperatures, depriving them of their vivid colors. A major portion of the government's latest aid will focus on preventing harmful agricultural waste from damaging the reef.
The current Australian government has lost support in key cities due to its funding for coal and unwillingness to address the climate change issue. It sparked a slew of electoral challenges from climate-focused independents. After a series of climate-related calamities such as floods, bushfires, and droughts, Australians are heavily in support of measures to mitigate climate change.
According to a survey conducted by the Lowy Institute in Sydney in 2021, 60% of Australians feel "global warming is a serious and pressing problem." Also, eight out of 10 Australians backed a net-zero emissions target by 2050, which was adopted by the Australian government last year before the UN climate summit in Scotland. The economy of Australia is strongly reliant on fossil fuels.
