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."
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.
-
China’s rare earth controls
The Explainer Beijing has shocked Washington with export restrictions on minerals used in most electronics
-
Quiz of The Week: 11 – 17 October
Quiz Have you been paying attention to The Week’s news?
-
The Week Unwrapped: Can bullfighting win over young Spaniards
Podcast Plus, is online fandom inherently unhealthy? And is Putin’s economy running out of gas?
-
Pentagon reporters turn in badges after refusing rules
Speed Read They refused to sign a restrictive new press policy imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
-
Supreme Court points to gutting Voting Rights Act
speed read States would no longer be required to consider race when drawing congressional maps
-
Trump says he authorized covert CIA ops in Venezuela
Speed Read He is also considering military strikes inside the country
-
‘Vile, racist’ leaked chats roil Young Republicans
Speed Read Leaders of Young Republican groups made racist, antisemitic and violent comments in private chats
-
Trump ties $20B Argentina bailout to Milei votes
speed read Trump will boost Argentina’s economy — if the country’s right-wing president wins upcoming elections
-
News organizations reject Pentagon restrictions
Speed Read The proposed policy is Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s latest move to limit press access at the Pentagon
-
Trump declares end to Gaza war, ‘dawn’ of new Mideast
Speed Read Hamas freed the final 20 living Israeli hostages and Israel released thousands of Palestinian detainees
-
Trump DOJ indicts New York AG Letitia James
Speed Read New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted as Trump’s Justice Department pursues charges against his political opponents