Australia’s beautiful Great Barrier Reef is under threat and in a state of emergency. As much as half of the Reef may be dead following back to back coral bleaching events in recent years.

The Great Barrier Reef is a living thing – precious and fragile. It’s is the only living thing on earth that is visible from space. Climate change and the fossil fuel industry have been constant threats to the Great Barrier Reef and it needs protecting now more than ever. 

Aerial view of the Great Barrier Reef

THE GREAT BARRIER REEF IS ON THE BRINK OF DESTRUCTION

The coal industry is accelerating global warming by mining and burning coal, and is putting the future of the Reef at risk. In 2016, warming oceans caused the worst coral bleaching event in history on the Great Barrier Reef and almost a quarter of the Reef’s coral died.

Scientists tell us we can have either coral or coal, but not both. Yet, the Australian government continues to promote the expansion of the coal industry. Australia’s carbon emissions are rising, and the Australian government approved the world’s biggest coal mine on the doorstep of the Great Barrier Reef.

Why is the Reef’s coral bleaching?

Tiny algae live in the tissue of coral providing it with food, and also giving coral its colour. As the ocean absorbs more and more CO2 from the atmosphere, ocean temperatures and acidity levels in the water rise. The algae become stressed and leave the coral – taking with it the coral’s source of food and its colour. The coral turns white and ‘bleaches’.

Infographic about coral bleaching. It is estimated that 60% of the world's coral reefs will be lost by 2030.

THREATS TO THE REEF

Hay point is about 40km south of the city of Mackay and has two Coal Terminals, Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal (DBCT) and Hay Point Coal Terminal (HPCT). It forms one of the largest coal export terminals in Australia and services coal mined from the Bowen Basin in central Queensland transported via rail. Hay Point is a striking example of the industrialisation of the Queensland coast for coal export.
Hay Point Coal Terminal, Queensland. Hay point is about 40km south of the city of Mackay and forms one of the largest coal export terminals in Australia. Hay Point is a striking example of the industrialisation of the Queensland coast for coal export and the threat posed to the Great Barrier Reef from increased shipping. © Greenpeace / Abram Powell

THE GREAT BARRIER REEF HAS TAKEN SHAPE OVER MILLIONS OF YEARS AND BECAUSE OF HUMAN INFLUENCE, IN JUST 30 YEARS, HALF OF IT IS GONE.

The Reef is under continued threat from climate change and industrialisation by the fossil fuel industry.

But it’s not too late – the Reef can recover in the right conditions and with time. But an expansion of the coal industry will accelerate dangerous climate change and cripple any chance the Reef has of repairing itself. Abbot Point coal terminal is a striking example of the industrialisation of the Queensland coast for coal export.

Despite the dangers to the Reef, in late December 2015, Federal Environment Minister Greg hunt approved dredging for the expansion of the Abbot Point Coal Terminal in North Queensland.

This project is risking the Reef at a time when the world is moving away from coal with new policies from the US and China. It’s time we followed suit. If the coal industry gets their way, we’ll see more and more bleaching of our beautiful Reef.

It would also involve digging up 1.1million cubic metres of the seafloor of the Great Barrier Reef – enough to fill 440 Olympic swimming pools!

In 2015, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee joined a long line of scientists, banks, organisations and individuals worried about the health of the Reef. UNESCO put the Australian government on watch and requested a report back on the health of the Reef and action the government is taking to save it. Due in December 2016, UNESCO will review the report and decide in 2017 whether the Great Barrier Reef should be officially listed as ‘in-danger’.

The Government cannot continue down the path of approving new coal mines and risking the future of a World Heritage-Listed Area. If we want a healthy Reef in our future, we need to act now.

BIODIVERSITY ON THE REEF

MORE THAN CORAL IS AT RISK

Sea turtle swimming in an area that has experienced a coral bleaching event

The Great Barrier Reef is an irreplaceable, natural wonder of the world. It is home to more than 1500 species of fish, 30 species of whales and dolphins, and 133 species of sharks and rays.

These unique creatures, some found only in the Reef’s waters, depend on this complex marine ecosystem for survival. If the Reef dies – where can they go?

Dredging at Abbot Point for a coal port expansion would rip up the seafloor and destroy precious seagrass habitat for dugongs, turtles and dolphins. We cannot allow these ludicrous plans to go ahead. You can make a difference for these animals and ensure they have a thriving Reef in their future.

IT’S TIME TO ACT AND FIGHT THE THREATS TO THE REEF

WHAT CAN WE DO TO STOP THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GREAT BARRIER REEF?

Activist scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef to raise awareness

We can’t stop this bleaching event, but we can alert the world to what’s really going on, and stop mining companies profiting from the destruction of our Australian icon.

The Reef is a World Heritage treasure in our own backyard, and right now Australia is not looking after it. Our politicians are failing to tackle the biggest issue facing our Reef – climate change. We simply can’t keep burning coal, driving ocean temperatures higher and higher and expect our Reef to survive.

The best way of protecting our Reef from climate change, is to do everything we can to stop burning fossil fuels, which means leaving them in the ground.

Greenpeace doesn’t have Big Mining’s deep pockets and government backing. What we do have is supporters like you who care about the future of the Great Barrier Reef.

People all across the world are joining the movement to save the Reef. This is a fight we can win. We’re on the right side of history. Together, we can turn the tide and save the Reef.