With the Great Barrier Reef in trouble, Australian government trying to figure out how to save it


In an attempt to save the Great Barrier Reef, the Australian government is looking into a 35-year plan that will cut pollution, fight invasive sea life, and regulate port developments near the reef.
The Great Barrier Reef has lost more than half of its coral since 1985, the government reports, and the United Nations says it could list it as "in danger" next year. "It's in a mess," snorkeling guide Byron Conroy told NPR. "The biggest one I see on a day-to-day basis is coral bleaching caused by climate change. So, just an increase of 2 degrees in water temperature causes all the algae to dispel from the coral.... If that doesn't get resolved, the water temperature doesn't sort itself out within six months, all the coral dies off."
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest living structure in the world, and almost two million tourists come from around the world to visit. If something isn't done soon to fix the reef, "that would bring terrible shame to Australia," Felicity Wishart with the Australian Marine Conservation Society told NPR. "It would potentially put tourists off coming here and be a real blow to the tourism industry."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Although the 35-year plan is a start, environmental organizations say one huge flaw is allowing companies to continue to dispose of millions of tons of sediment from port dredging on the reef. "It doesn't have big, new, bold actions that can be implemented immediately," says Richard Lek of Australia's World Wildlife Federation.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Gavin Newsom mulls California redistricting to counter Texas gerrymandering
TALKING POINTS A controversial plan has become a major flashpoint among Democrats struggling for traction in the Trump era
-
6 perfect gifts for travel lovers
The Week Recommends The best trip is the one that lives on and on
-
How can you get the maximum Social Security retirement benefit?
the explainer These steps can help boost the Social Security amount you receive
-
President diagnosed with 'chronic venous insufficiency'
Speed Read The vein disorder has given Trump swollen ankles and visible bruising on his hands
-
'Bawdy' Trump letter supercharges Epstein scandal
Speed Read The Wall Street Journal published details of Trump's alleged birthday letter to Epstein
-
Fed chair Powell in Trump's firing line
Speed Read The president considers removing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell
-
Trump trashes supporters over Epstein files
speed read The president lashed out on social media following criticism of his administration's Jeffrey Epstein investigation
-
Judge nixes wiping medical debt from credit checks
Speed Read Medical debt can now be included in credit reports
-
Grijalva wins Democratic special primary for Arizona
Speed Read She will go up against Republican nominee Daniel Butierez to fill the US House seat her father held until his death earlier this year
-
US inflation jumps as Trump tariffs 'bite'
Speed Read Consumer prices are climbing and the inflation rate rose to its highest level in four months
-
SCOTUS greenlights mass DOE firings
Speed Read The Supreme Court will allow the Trump administration to further shrink the Education Department