Coal, cumulative impacts, and the Great Barrier Reef

摘要: The Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, Australia, covers over 348,000 km 2 of tropical marine ecosystems global significance. In July 2015, the Committee called attention to cumulative impacts climate change, poor water quality, and coastal development on region's outstanding universal value, but stopped short inscribing List in Danger. Restoring values is hindered by an environmental decision-making process that fails incorporate impacts, including change greenhouse gas emissions sourced from one Australia's largest exports, thermal coal. We identify policy processes enable a more comprehensive consideration effects coal mining decision-makers. Implementing impact assessment requires collaborative transparent program planning monitoring independent Government mine proponents evaluates local, regional, impacts. future depends transformational Australian mines.