Pressure Turnbull gov over coral bleaching and coal

Sea temperatures have been unusually warm this summer and there has been significant coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef, particularly north of Cairns. Coral bleaching is caused by warmer water and can see the death of the coral, along with all the supporting ecosystem with it.

Significant coral bleaching events have degraded the reef over the past two decades, and reef authorities say large parts of the reef north of Cairns have been bleached this summer. 

Frequent coral bleaching could pose a threat to the tropical North Queensland region, which heavily relies on the reef for tourism, jobs and commercial fishing. 

Scientists at the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority warn of frequent coral bleaching and the destruction of some coral if global greenhouse gas emissions are not addressed. 

They say the hot summer conditions and rising global sea temperatures will do the damage. 

But a degrading reef could also spell disaster for tropical North Queensland. 

A report commissioned by the Department of the Environment suggests the Great Barrier Reef contributes $5.7 billion in tourism and employment to the Australian economy. 

It says nearly two million people visit the reef each year. 

The director for reef recovery at the Marine Park Authority, David Wachenfeld, says the effects of coral bleaching go far beyond environmental damage. 

"The Great Barrier Reef is an international environmental icon, which I think is recognised in its world heritage status, but, of course, it is also an economic powerhouse. The reef generates over $5 billion per year for the Australian economy, and it supports almost 70,000 jobs, mostly in the tourism industry. So when we talk about climate change and bleaching threatening the reef, we're not just talking about environmental damage, we're also talking about social and economic damage." 

Deloitte Access Economics, which compiled the report, says Cairns and the Whitsundays rely heavily on tourism and 87 per cent of visitors to the areas visit the Great Barrier Reef. SBS

To pressure the Turnbull gov to turn away from coal you can contribute here to get the below add on the air. There could be literally thousands of jobs lost in tourism along with the Great Barrier Reef. Talk $ to the Lieberals, as it's obviously the only thing they understand.