Great Barrier Reef: 93% are Bleached

The Great Barrier Reef is currently under siege from coal and climate change. The report was announced by scientists who revealed that 93 percent of the world heritage is presently experiencing severe coral bleaching.

The latest event, which is caused by the warming of the ocean, is referred to as an attack to the earth's biggest coral ecosystem. With only 50 percent of the affected corals believed to survive, around 10 percent are expected to recover in a few areas, The Guardian reported.

Hence, 56 scientists have called on the government of Australia to phase out coal, citing that the country'scoal expansion is currently putting heavy impacts on the Reef. According to scientists, this will continue to strengthen the negative impacts on the climate that are damaging the famous heritage site in Australia. However, in spite of the Australian government's desire to answer the serious condition of the reef, they appear to be unwilling to accept that it is time for the country to get rid of coal.

Based on an aerial check, over 900 reefs along the area's 2,300 kilometer zone indicate that 90 percent of the coral north of Port Douglas are already white, while 10 percent in the reef south of Mackay. In addition to this, Australia has not only lost 50 percent of coral cover in the last 30 years, but as scientists revealed, this bleaching event is the third time in only more than half that period, KQED reported.

Great Barrier Reef is among the most diverse ocean habitats in the world, producing over $5 billion in tourism revenues and uses almost 70,000 people. Yet in spite of this, the government of Australia has recently allowed the operation of a large coal mine in Queensland, threatening the reef and increasing the rate of emissions. According to experts, only the stoppage of coal exports and expansion will help Australia to properly protect the Reef.