Pope 1

Kayla Pope
AP Language
13 December 2016
Destruction of the Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef, so enormous it can be seen from outer space, has
been a beloved site for tourists visiting Australia for decades, especially after the
1975 establishment of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The park spans seventy
football fields and consists of around 3,000 coral reefs that now face grave danger
(Facts about the Great Barrier Reef). The Great Barrier Reef, due to the rise of
ocean temperatures this year, is experiencing widespread bleaching, with only
seven percent of the reef yet to be impacted. The northern coral is facing the
greatest destruction, with around fifty percent either dead or dying. The warming of
ocean temperatures, significantly increased by global warming, is forcing coral to
expel living algae, calcify and turn white (Great Barrier Reef in peril). The coral
extends for about 2,300 kilometers, and the area of destruction would be equal to
the size of Scotland (Four images show complete destruction of coral colonies in
Great Barrier Reef). Humans have detrimentally contributed to the destruction of
the Great Barrier Reef through the burning of fossil fuels contributing to climate
change and coastal sediment runoff; the continual destruction of the reef will result
in limited biodiversity within the reefs ecosystem, decreased reproduction due to
ocean acidification, and the reef becoming less resilient.
Though bleaching has previously occurred in the reef, the major causes
impacting the extent to which the reef can recover from the current cycle of
bleaching is negatively impacted by man-induced environmental deterioration

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through accelerating climate change and the runoff of coastal sediment. Bleaching
in the Great Barrier Reef is not a new phenomenon, but long-term records show
this severe and sudden decline in coral growth is unprecedented in at least the last
400 years, with 1980 being the tipping point in the bleaching (Hughes et al).
Research has shown that climate change- driven mainly by the burning of coal, oil,
and gas- has caused extreme ocean temperatures, making bleaching on the Great
Barrier Reef this year at least 175 times more likely (Hughes et al). Furthermore,
farm chemicals and coastal sediment often find their way into ocean waters and
threaten its survival (Great Barrier Reef Threatened by Climate Change, Chemicals
and Sediment). Corals are beginning to show signs that they cannot acclimate
adequately at the rate the global temperature is climbing, serving as evidence that
the increase of bleaching over time has negative impacts on the reefs ability to
remain resilient. When corals undergo severe stress for extended periods of time,
their chance of survival decreases; and if the coral do survive, they grow back
slowly with decreased reproductive rates, as well as being more susceptible to
disease (Hughes et al). Ample evidence proves that human action has increased
the destruction of the coral reef, and that if this action is not ceased, or cut back on,
the reef will not retain its resilience and will eventually cease to exist. One who was
faced with the decision on whether or not to leave the world a safer place for their
children to grow up in is likely to say yes, so why are many ignoring the
ramifications climate change can have on the Earths most precious natural
wonders, foreshadowing the broader environmental destruction it will bring?
Despite evidence broadcasting the human causes behind the Great Barrier
Reefs mass bleaching, the Australian government continues to support projects
that will both contribute to and spur further destruction in order to profit in fossil

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fuel producing industries. According to IPSOS polling data, 56 per cent of
Australians think climate change is contributing to the destruction of the Great
Barrier Reef, but as for the government addressing climate change more than half
(52 per cent) said the government was doing not very much and 14 per cent said
nothing at all, consistent between Australians of different ages and incomes
(Climate change worries voters). Despite popular public opinion agreeing climate
change has contributed to the destruction of the Great Barrier Reef and an
overwhelming majority agreeing the government has done little or nothing to
address climate change, the Australian government does not alter their position.
Rather, the Australian government took steps backwards, in their approval of the
construction of the Carmichael coal mine- which would produce fossil fuels- and the
extension of the Abbot Point terminal- enabling coal shipment under one-hundred
fifteen miles from the Great Barrier Reef. Projects and expansions such as these
increase greenhouse gas emissions and exacerbate impacts on the Reef
contributed to climate change (The death of world heritage sites). In response,
175 businesses and individuals alike, most of them tourist operators, signed a
statement urging the Australian government to address the destruction of the reef,
stating that the cause of destruction is largely attributed to global warming and the
aforementioned projects will accelerate both global warming and the runoff of
coastal sediment; therefore the government must stop supporting the projects
(Tourism operators urge Australia to tackle climate change). Not only will the
destruction destroy the tourism industry, it will have effects unlikely to be reversed.
The destruction of the coral reef is unlikely to cease with current plans for
emission reduction, and the effects will become disastrous- including the rise of
ocean acidification causing a decrease in the reproduction of the reef and fish, and

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the termination of biodiversity in the reefs habitat. The pledge to reduce emissions
by the UNFCCC must be more ambitious, as the current pledge would still see a rise
in global temperature above three degrees Celsius, and unless more serious
reductions are achieved extreme coral bleaching will be the new normal by the
2030s (Hughes et al). This will also contribute to the likelihood of increased ocean
acidification, which limits the reefs ability to recover, remain resilient and
endangers sea animals who reproduce using calcium carbonate. Ocean acidification
is expected to occur if atmospheric carbon dioxide surpasses 500 parts per
million. Moreover, the destruction of the reef itself will see at worst a 95 percent
decrease in the distribution of Great Barrier Reef species by late this century
(Coral Destruction to Great Barrier Reef, Australia | Global Warming Effects). The
destruction of the reef not only negatively impacts the environment, but also limits
the profits from tourism, which can have unforeseen environmental impacts.
As the destruction of the Great Barrier Reef is now in the eye of the public,
tourism has already begun to decline, which may lead to the rise of industries
harmful to the environment, such as mining, to cover the decline. The Great Barrier
Reef is of substantial value economically, from 2011-2012 alone sustaining 69,000
jobs and bringing $5.7 billion to the Australian economy. Even more staggering, 500
million people depend on the reef for food and livelihood, an economic asset of one
trillion dollars (Hughes et al). Since the reef is so valuable, its decline would force
the government to make up for the deficit in other industries, such as mining, which
would damage not only the reefs surrounding environment, but the remainder of
the reef itself. In the past, the reef has escaped potential gas mining, oil spills,
overfishing, and land-based coastal industries draining to it, all due to its value
economically (Climate change, tourism, and the Great Barrier Reef: what we

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know). If this value falters, the reef may not be so lucky in the future. Some claim
that the liberal agenda is attempting to exaggerate the effects of climate change on
the reef to promote their agenda at the expense of the tourism industry, but how
can the tourism industry survive without the reef?
Those in the public eye speaking out against the idea that the destruction of
the Great Barrier Reef is aggravated by human action argue that this is a false claim
used for political motive, and is unnecessarily hurting the Australian tourist industry.
One of these is One Nation Senator Hanson, who swam Great Keppel Island on
November 25th and showed cameras a portion of the Great Barrier Reef which was
alive. She stated that though she was not an expert on the reef, she did not believe
that humans were responsible for coral bleaching and that the debate surrounding
the health of the coral is politically driven. She was joined by fellow Senators
Roberts and Burston; Roberts has advocated that the global warming case doesnt
stack up and that Australia should not be updating the status of the Reef to a
United Nations agency that fabricated climate change (Hanson dons wetsuit to
take on reef claims). While this may be a compelling argument for viewers who are
ignorant to the extent of the damage, Hanson visited an area around 625 miles
away from the most extensive damage in Lizard Island and lacks an argument to
discredit that human action contributed to the destruction. Photos taken by Vale
illustrate the wide-spread destruction of the current bleaching, the first taken
December 20th, 2015, depicting a healthy coral Lizard Island, and the last, taken
May 2nd, 2016, showing the same coral has completely died and been overtaken
with algae (Four images). Hanson also expressed concern that groups are
exaggerating claims in order to gain political influence at the expense of the tourism

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industry, but these groups, rather, intend to preserve the reef for future
generations, so that the reef, along with the tourism industry, do not die out.
There is ample evidence and consensus that the destruction of the Great
Barrier Reef can be largely attributed to climate change, but the Australian
government remains hesitant to take preventative measures, which may face
possible consequences to the tourism industry. However, if the Australian
government continues to ignore the problem and allow plans like the Abbot Point
terminal expansion and the construction of the Carmichael coal mine to go forward,
the destruction will accelerate due to increased emissions and runoff, and the
tourism industry will inevitably go under. The Bureau of Meteorology suggests that
El Nino this year, which assisted in the extensive bleaching through raising global
temperatures, is foreshadowing the future impacts of climate change, citing
Hoggetts evaluation that coral is the canary of the mine (Heres why you may
want to visit the Great Barrier Reef sooner rather than later). Sadly, in my
research, it was of perplexing difficulty to find studies evaluating the extent to
which life around the reef would be harmed by its destruction. More easily, I could
find a multitude of information on how the destruction could destroy the tourism
industry and its profits, and the only conclusion that one can draw from this is
humans care more about profiting off the environment, than the negative impacts
we are causing it and the life within.

Works Cited

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"Climate change, tourism and the Great Barrier Reef: what we know." Down To
Earth, 30 May 2016. General OneFile. Accessed 28 Nov. 2016.
"Climate change worries voters." Sydney Morning Herald [Sydney, Australia], 25
May 2016, p. 7. Global Issues in Context. Accessed 28 Nov. 2016.
"Coral Destruction to Great Barrier Reef, Australia | Global Warming Effects." Coral
Destruction to Great Barrier Reef, Australia | Global Warming Effects. Union of
Concerned Scientists, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2016.
"Facts about the Great Barrier Reef." Facts about the Great Barrier Reef - GBRMPA.
N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2016.
"Four images show complete destruction of coral colonies in Great Barrier Reef."
Stock Watch, 12 May 2016. Infotrac Newsstand. Accessed 28 Nov. 2016.
"Great Barrier Reef 'in peril'." Mirror [London, England], 29 Apr. 2016, p. 31. Infotrac
Newsstand. Accessed 28 Nov. 2016.
"Great Barrier Reef Threatened by Climate Change, Chemicals and Sediment" N.p.,
n.d. Web. 2 Dec. 2016.
"Here's why you may want to visit the Great Barrier Reef sooner rather than later."
Washingtonpost.com, 7 Mar. 2016. General OneFile.Accessed 28 Nov. 2016.
Hughes, Lesley, Will Steffen, and Martin Rice. "Australia's Coral Reefs Under Threat
From Climate Change." Climate Council. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2016.
"Hanson Dons Wetsuit to Take on Reef Claims." Breaking News & Top Stories from
Australia and the World - Sky News. Australian News Channel Pty Ltd, 25 Nov.
2016. Web. 02 Dec. 2016.

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"The death of world heritage sites." Philippines Daily Inquirer [Makati City,
Philippines], 11 Aug. 2016. Global Issues in Context. Accessed 28 Nov. 2016.
"Tourism operators urge Australia to tackle climate change." Iran Daily [Tehran,
Iran], 7 May 2016. General OneFile. Accessed 28 Nov. 2016.