{"id":769,"date":"2023-05-08T18:22:49","date_gmt":"2023-05-08T18:22:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stage.openvirtualworlds.org\/worldheritage2023\/?p=769"},"modified":"2023-05-08T18:22:49","modified_gmt":"2023-05-08T18:22:49","slug":"threats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stage.openvirtualworlds.org\/worldheritage2023\/2023\/05\/08\/threats\/","title":{"rendered":"Threats"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Home<\/a>\/Threat<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Great Barrier Reef is in grave danger, and the twin perils brought by climate change, an increase in the temperature of the ocean and its acidity, if they continue to rise at the present rate the reefs will be gone within decades and that would be a global catastrophe.<\/p>\n\u2014 Sir David Attenborough Renowned British zoologist, naturalist and writer.<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Climate change is the single biggest threat facing the Reef. Sourse: Bloomberg UK<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What’s happening?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Temperatures are rising on our land and in our oceans, caused primarily by an increase of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Carbon dioxide levels have been rising steadily for more than 100 years due mainly to the burning of fossil fuels, trapping more heat in our atmosphere and contributing to climate change.

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the richest and most complex natural ecosystems on the planet, but climate change is the biggest threat to the future of coral reefs here and around the world. It impacts reefs in a number of ways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Coral bleach<\/strong><\/p>Bleached corals expel their algal shells to reveal a bright white skeleton<\/code><\/pre>\n<\/code><\/pre>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
When corals suffer heat stress, they expel the microscopic algae that live inside their tissues, revealing their white skeletons. Bleached corals are not dead, but are more at risk of starvation and disease.
Already marine heatwaves have triggered four mass coral bleaching events on the Great Barrier Reef in just seven years, reducing shallow water coral reefs by as much as 50%. Coral reefs can recover from bleaching over time, but only if temperatures drop and conditions return to normal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Ocean acidification<\/strong><\/span><\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Ocean acidification formation process<\/p><\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
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The ocean absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, making it more acidic. <\/a>This process is known as ocean acidification. Since the late 18th century, the ocean has absorbed about 30 percent of the carbon produced by humans, lowering its pH.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A more acidic ocean means that corals cannot build skeletons and form reefs, which help protect coastlines from storms and provide habitat for thousands of species of marine life.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Severe weather events<\/p>\n<\/code><\/pre>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of severe weather events. Coastal regions like the Great Barrier Reef are particularly exposed to damaging cyclones, flooding and storms.

Between 2004 and 2018, 10 cyclones of category three or more crossed the Great Barrier Reef, causing significant damage to coral reefs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Habitat changes<\/p><\/code><\/pre><\/code><\/pre>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
As water temperatures rise, many marine species are being forced to move south to cooler habitats. This shift creates increased competition for food and shelter in cooler waters, threatening the entire ecosystem.

For Reef communities, the loss of marine life can have a devastating impact on local ecosystems, food sources and other industries such as tourism.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Tackling climate change<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to turn the tide on coral reef decline, but the window to act is closing.

To protect the Reef from climate change we must:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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  • Reduce emissions:<\/strong> Inadequate global action to address climate change is having a serious impact on the health of our Great Barrier Reef. Urgent global action is needed now to dramatically and rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions if we are to have any chance of saving our reefs. We must also strengthen key ecosystems such as seagrass meadows, mangroves and wetlands, which help absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. These ecosystems play a key role in combating climate change by storing carbon. Coral reefs are among the most powerful blue carbon sites in the world.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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