So it’s not so much that the reef is not in danger, it’s that the Australian government doesn’t want its economy disturbed and has been successfully lobbying against scientists recommendations.
I was just coming in to question the use of the word “escape”. Such sad bull shit.
It sounds like they’ve made some progress and that they’re delaying this decision for a year in the hopes that it’ll encourage more, so while the notion that the reef is not in danger is, obviously, bullshit, if UNESCO can dangle that designation over the Aussies’ heads as a stick for a few years and get them to work a bit harder to protect the reef, maybe it’s kind of defensible?
It’s been about 5yrs now. UNESCO know it’s endangered, but the government keep debating their data and privately sourcing bs data that pretends everything is okay.
It’s probably too late now. The reef is below a stable level to recover from any more impact. And there is definitively more impact coming from the climate crisis.
Dangle away. I guarantee you we won’t do shit to stop the reef from dying. Y’all need to smash us with tariffs and trade sanctions.
Which is fucking bizarre because the coal mines they’re dredging it for provide a small fraction of the jobs the tourism industry in that area does.
We need to make this more of a thing around the world:
Visitors also have the opportunity to frag coral (3,500 yen per piece, about $31), which is to cut off a small fragment of coral and prep it to be propagated and transplanted back in the ocean. Those interested should bring along a friend who can speak Japanese and also make a reservation.
Sango Batake serves as a safe haven for coral. Its pools are kept at a consistent water quality and temperature and the absence of natural predators all contribute to the ideal environment young coral needs to grow and eventually return to the ocean.
Though the facility doesn’t house large creatures such as Rhincodon Typus or rays, its unique commitment to the environment stands out given a critical situation affecting coral in Okinawa and abroad.
https://okinawa.stripes.com/travel/exploring-okinawa-coral-farm-must-visit-ocean-lovers
Isn’t this a bad thing for conservation of the reef?
Glad to see this for the Great Barrier Reef. Hopefully it can last.
Australian here. Sorry to be a downer but it won’t. I’m honestly shocked UNESCO made this decision and am concerned about political interference from our government. We’re experiencing warming faster than the rest of the world. Last I saw we’re at 1.4 degrees and 1.5 is when coral bleaching events are predicted to cause wide spread devastation of the reef. Do not believe anything our government says. They are currently still approving the opening of new coal and gas mines (some of them are the largest fossil fuel projects in history). The run off from the coal projects (especially in qld where the reef is) contribute to poor water quality which impacts the reef.
Australia is one of the world’s worst actors on climate change. One of our states just passed a law making it a criminal offence (with jail time) to protest climate inaction. I love my country but we deserve so much more criticism than we get.
Finally some god dean good news, I’ve been asking for it for like 10 years.
