Press release – 20 November, 2016Sydney, 21 November 2016 – The former head of the Australian government’s Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) has called on the government to ban new coal mines to protect the Great Barrier Reef from the dangers of climate change.Graeme Kelleher was the first chairperson and chief executive of the GBRMPA, a government organisation dedicated to the care and development of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Kelleher held the position for 16 years.
The call for a ban on new coal mines comes ahead of the deadline (Dec 1) for the Australian government to report back to the United Nations’ environmental arm, UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee, over its handling of the health of the Great Barrier Reef.
“Australia cannot have a healthy Great Barrier Reef and a continuing coal industry,” Kelleher said.
“This year was a wake-up call for everyone that Australia has to step up when it comes to protecting the reef and a ban on new coal mines would be a necessary first step.
“If Australians truly want their children and grandchildren to be able to visit and enjoy the Great Barrier Reef, we need to loudly call for a ban new coal mines and a reduction in the mining of coal,” he added.
In September, the Australian government has claimed it has made “good progress” [1] in protecting the Great Barrier Reef during the previous 12 months, despite 22% of the reef’s coral being killed in the worst coral bleaching event in history.
It is a period of time in which the Australian government has made a number of controversial decisions that both endanger the reef and defy the Paris climate agreement. Primarily in its support of a huge expansion of coal mining in Australia, including the Carmichael coal mine in Queensland. A timeline of the actions of the government during this time period can be found
here
(pdf).
“It’s not right for this government to pat itself on the back and claim it’s protecting the reef when nearly a quarter of its coral was killed this year,” said Kelleher.
Kelleher is an international specialist in marine parks, has authored several major books and reports on marine environments and was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia honour.
Kelleher will endorse a new
petition
with Greenpeace calling for other Australians to join him in calling for a ban on new coal mines to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
Greenpeace Australia Pacific reef campaigner Shani Tager said: “Graeme is a giant when it comes to the Great Barrier Reef and has a wealth of experience and knowledge about the threats it faces. His comments are a stark reminder of our need to take serious action to save the reef.”
Recent economic modelling by the Australia Institute found a ban on new coal mines would not have a significant effect on the Australian economy [2].
Notes:
[1] Reef 2050 plan annual report 2015-16. Australian Government.
http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/e2b70193-91fa-49e6-95b2-b1aa8adb1d7c/files/annual-report-imp-plan-reef-2050-plan.pdf
[2] Coal’s death would not kill economy. ABC News. 16/09/2016.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-16/coal-death-would-not-kill-economy/7851260
Details about Graeme Kelleher
Ocean Elders biography
Curriculum vitae ahead of the Order of Australia honour
Timeline of Australian government’s actions during this Unesco submission period
Available here
Greenpeace petition
Available here