7 hours Ago By Rakesh Kumar
ABOUT 90 per cent of coral reefs in the Pacific will die out if the temperature goes over two degrees pre-industrial level, says the executive director Live and Learn Pacific Network, Christian Nielsen. Speaking at the Global Development Conference plenary session on the topic Foundations of Climate Resilience at the USP’s Laucala Campus this week, he said coral reefs in the Pacific were dying out. “I’m an underwater filmmaker,” Mr Nielsen said.
“I lived for six years in the Baroque Lagoon. “In the late ’80s and early ’90s I was filming for National Geographic and I was already then very concerned about the state of coral reefs in Baroque Lagoon. “Now, at the moment, science tells us that the climate was stabilised at 2.
6 degrees, pre-industrial levels. That is what we’re currently predicting should all science be correct. “If we’re doing what we’re doing now, it will stabilise at 2.
6 degrees. That’s the best I guess. “Now, at two degrees, coral reefs die out.
” Mr Nielsen highlighted that already two thirds of coral reefs on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia have bleached. “And in the Pacific, about 90 per cent of coral reefs will die out if we go over two degrees pre-industrial level. “That flow-on impact will mean that fisheries habitats in coastal areas of the Pacific will decline by 50 per cent.
Imagine what that would do to migration and stability across the Pacific.” Mr Nielsen said resilience was about counteracting and withstanding what may be a looming coral crisis. “I’m not saying this to depress everyone.
I’m saying this to fire you up and really understand the incentive there is for all of us to really lean into this space with everything we have.”.
