Coral reefs in the Bahams face the threat of being ruined forever as man made emissions are weakening them and damaging their delicate ecosystem.
The results of scientific studies were released this week show that in as little as 30 years, the world’s coral reefs will begin to collapse, the likes of which could have a devastating effect on every living thing in the ocean.
Also, the economic consequences for the nations that rely on coral reefs could be serious, researchers say.
Coral reefs attract tourists, serve as a nursery for fisheries and buffer small island states against the waves.
The Bahamas Reef Environment Foundation (BREEF) warned these latest reports are critical for the Bahamas.
Spokeswoman Casuarina McKinney said the Bahamas finds itself in a position where although the country’s emissions output is very small, it and other island states suffer the most from large industrial countries.
The Bahamas’ closest neighbour, the United States, is said to be the world’s biggest contributor of greenhouse gases. The US has yet to sign on to the Kyoto Protocol, a United Nations global agreement, which seeks to achieve quantified emission limitation, hence curbing the climate changes caused by industrial societies.
Ms. McKinney said the country and the world at large must be willing to cut back on the use of diesel and gasoline for cars and generators, for example.
She said there are alternative sources of power, such as sun and the wind, which must be further explored.
Also, the Bahamas should encourage its neighbours to sign the protocol, she advised.
Source: Felicity Ingraham, The Tribune
