The Climate Council of Australia (CCA) has warned that the fate of the Great Barrier Reef could be sealed in the next term of Federal Government.

The CCA’s latest analysis says increased climate variability is having a clear effect on the Great Barrier Reef.

It provides strong scientific evidence that future bleaching events are likely to become more frequent and severe.

They say the current level of bleaching could occur every two years by the mid 2030s, and the world’s coral reefs are unlikely to be able to cope.

“Recently, we have seen some serious smoke and mirrors about the ability of the reef to recover,” report author Professor Will Steffen said.

“The fact is, as bleaching events get closer together and more severe, reefs will struggle to survive.

“Some parts of the reef currently experiencing bleaching may be able to recover, provided that they are not repeatedly and frequently bleached in the future. This is why tackling climate change is critical to the long-term future of the reef.

“Depending on how quickly the record-breaking ocean temperatures wane, the reef may be able to partly heal in some areas in the short-term. But in the long-term, the reef’s capacity to recover will depend on how much and how fast we reduce our greenhouse gas emissions in the next few years.

“Recovery could be impossible for many of the reefs currently affected if climate change is not arrested.”

Australia’s coral reefs are very unlikely to recover in the long-term if we continue to burn coal, which is driving the increasing global temperatures, the report found.

Global emissions must be trending down by 2020 at the latest to save the world’s coral reefs. While countries like the US are now reducing their emissions, Australia’s are rising.

“We are more than halfway through the critical decade for action to stabilise the climate and reduce the risks of climate change. Scientists have been warning the world about the risks from climate change for more than 30 years. Now it is crunch time,” co-author Professor Lesley Hughes said.

“The window to limit global warming and preserve Australia’s coral reefs is running out.

“The decisions made in the next federal term of government and the current term of the Queensland government will be critical to the long-term survival of the reef.”

“It is vitally important that Australia plays its part in global efforts to tackle climate change.”

Professor Hughes said attempts to improve water quality on the Great Barrier Reef will be in vain without action on climate change.

“The bottom line is that water quality improvements, though welcome, will not save the Great Barrier Reef. The only way to do that is to rapidly transition our energy systems away from polluting fossil fuels towards modern, clean renewables,” she said.