Our unsustainable habits are propelling climate change, and as a result, the Great Barrier Reef is under immense environmental stress. Coral bleaching has reached record levels and no one knows if or when the coral will ever recovSer. This is concerning not just from an environmental perspective, but, as a new report by Deloitte Access Economics shows, that loss of the reef would represent an “economic catastrophe” as it is estimated to be worth $56 billion (AUS), or $42 billion (USD).
As water temperatures rise, the coral expels algae living within, causing it to turn ghostly white (a phenomenon known as coral bleaching). Though consumers everywhere are changing their habits to reduce greenhouse emissions and prevent global warming from worsening, no one knows for sure how long it will take — or even if — the bleached portions will bounce back.
This is an excerpt from an article first published by inhabitat. Read the original article here: The threatened Great Barrier Reef is estimated to be worth $42 billion.
