Australia downgraded the Great Barrier Reef's long-term outlook to "very poor" for the first time Friday, as the world heritage site struggles with "escalating" climate change. In its latest five-yearly report on the health of the world's largest coral reef system, the government
1 / 2Great Barrier ReefMap and factfile on Australia's Great Barrier Reef Sydney - Australia downgraded the Great Barrier Reef's long-term outlook to"very poor" for the first time Friday, as the world heritage site struggles with"escalating" climate change.
But the agency added that the threats to the 2,300-kilometre reef were"multiple, cumulative and increasing" and, in addition to warming seas, included agricultural run-off and coral-eating crown of thorns starfish. The government insists it is meeting its emissions targets as set under international protocols, including the Paris climate agreement, and argues that Australia's total greenhouse gas output remains far below that of major polluting nations.
Environmentalists said the latest reef outlook put new pressure on Prime Minister Scott Morrison over his support for expanding production of coal, Australia's biggest export.
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