LETTER: Lack of climate change action risks our reef
IN NOVEMBER 2014, when here for the G20 summit, US President Obama expressed a hope to return to spend some time on our Great Barrier Reef.
Well, he had better hurry because it is losing so much of its uniqueness that qualifies it for its prestigious World Heritage listing.
Scientists have reported that about a third of the reef, covering some of its most pristine areas at the northern end, is undergoing a mass coral bleaching like never before and there are grave fears for the reef's survival.
The Queensland Government is addressing issues such as the run-off of sediment, nutrients and pesticides, but the real threat is global warming.
As a nation we are not doing enough to reduce our impact on our planet.
The Turnbull Government continues with its dud Direct Action Plan and our carbon emissions continue to rise.
We can't expect other countries to cut damaging emissions if we don't.
We need to be a leader in protecting the environment because we have so much to lose as the driest inhabited continent and guardians of the Great Barrier Reef.
Do we have to wait until we lose precious areas of our environment before we take real action on climate change?