Climate and the Environment - The Great Barrier Reef. Is society doing enough to preserve the Great Barrier Reef?

The Wicked Problem

Climate change - How this issue is impacting on the Great Barrier Reef. News outlets online and on TV constantly talking about the deteriorating nature of the Great Barrier Reef due to factors which have potentially cause by humans.

Stage 2 - Geography - The Earth's Environment - GE2-2/GE2-3 - Significance/protection/perception of environment

Guiding Questions

Is Society doing enough to preserve the Great Barrier Reef?

How do different views on Climate change impact on the Great Barrier Reef?

What ways are there to help preserve the Great Barrier Reef?

What has changed to in the world to lead us to this situation?

Prior Assumed Knowledge

What do i know about this issue?

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the Australia's and the worlds most famous Heritage listed (1981) natural natural wonder. Being on of the largest living structures on the planet, big enough that it can be seen from space.

The Great Barrier Reef is an iconic Australian landmark which is well know across the world. Tourist from local and global places travel to northern Queensland to explore the amazing environment of the reef.

The reef itself contains over 3000 individual coral reefs occupying approximately 70 million football fields. It contains over 1600 different type of fish species and an abundance of various birds, sharks and other other marine animals in its waters and land.

Climate change has been the single most impactfull issue affecting the Great Barrier Reef, in a 2019 report it stated that since 2014 there has been a significant decline in the state of the Reef and Climate change is the main factor as to why.

Climate change

Climate change is a topic world wide which has significantly gained attention over the past few years. Growing up it was mainly know as global warming but has since been labelled climate change due to significant impact that elements such as global warming have changed the nature of the land.

Climate change alone has led too increasing water temperatures making it very difficult for coral and fish species to adapt and survive. Ocean acidification were the ocean has absorbed 30% of the carbon emissions that the earth has produced resulting in changes to pH levels in the water. finally the increasing sever weather conditions have impact the structural integrity of the reefs.

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