Hey there, ocean lovers! 🌊 Have you heard about the latest threat to the \"Amazon of the Seas\"? Yep, we're talking about the magnificent Coral Triangle, and things are getting serious. 😢
A new report dropped on Saturday, coinciding with the UN's COP16 summit on biodiversity, and it's sounding the alarm on fossil fuel exploration in this vibrant marine paradise. 🚨 Fossil fuels are creeping into an ever-expanding swath of the Indo-Pacific region, putting at risk not just marine species, but also the communities that rely on them. 🐠👫
The Coral Triangle spans over 10 million square kilometers across the waters of Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, the Philippines, Timor-Leste, and the Solomon Islands. That's a massive area teeming with life! 🌴🐢 It's home to three-quarters of the world's known coral species, six out of seven marine turtle species, and serves as a feeding ground for whales and other majestic marine mammals. 🐋❤️
More than 120 million people depend on this rich ecosystem for their livelihoods. But here's the kicker: over 100 offshore oil and gas blocks are already in play, with another 450 blocks being explored for future extraction. If all these go into production, about 16% of the Coral Triangle would be directly impacted by fossil fuel development. That's a huge chunk! 😱
With increased tanker traffic comes the heightened risk of oil spills. Since July 2020, satellites have spotted 793 oil slicks in the region. That's like covering an area nearly the size of the Solomon Islands with oil! 🛢️🌊 Not cool.
The report's authors are calling for a moratorium on oil, gas, mining, and other industrial activities in environmentally sensitive areas within the Coral Triangle. They're urging for a leap towards clean energy sources instead of relying on LNG as a \"transition fuel.\" 🌱⚡
They also want the triangle to be designated as a \"particularly sensitive sea area,\" to give it special protection from shipping. With global biodiversity goals aiming to conserve and manage at least 30% of marine areas by 2030, it's time to step up for the Coral Triangle. 🕊️🌐
So, what can we do? Spread the word! Share this story, talk about it with your friends, and let's put the pressure on for sustainable solutions. Our oceans need us now more than ever. 💙
#SaveTheCoralTriangle #ClimateAction #OceanConservation
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
