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Around the world, climate change is triggering more frequent and severe coral bleaching events, which kill coral. Global emissions reduction remains the most important action to minimise the impact of climate change on the Great Barrier Reef. However, with average global temperatures already 1°C above pre-industrial levels, emissions reduction is no longer enough to guarantee survival of the Great Barrier Reef as we know it. Modelling shows that even in the best-case scenario of carbon emissions reduction, water temperatures will continue to increase until 2050, outpacing corals' capacity to naturally adapt. In addition to best-practice reef management, and global action to reduce carbon emissions, bold action is urgently needed to help protect the Great Barrier Reef. Successful intervention is possible and could double the likelihood of sustaining the Reef in good condition by 2050, according to the world's most rigorous and comprehensive investigation into medium- and large-scale reef intervention. The Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program (RRAP) Concept Feasibility Study was conducted by a partnership of leading Australian experts including scientists, engineers, modellers and economists. RRAP is now embarking on a long-term research and development (R&D) program to rigorously develop, test and risk-assess novel interventions to help keep the Reef resilient and sustain critical functions and values. This ambitious undertaking will require not only our best minds working in partnership across many organisations and fields of expertise, but importantly, the input and support of Traditional Owners, reef communities and industries and the wider Australian public. The aim is to provide reef managers and decision-makers with an innovative toolkit of safe, acceptable, cost-effective interventions to help protect the Great Barrier Reef from the impacts of climate change. The toolkit would allow for an integrated three-point approach to helping protect the Reef: o cooling and shading to help protect the Reef from the impacts of climate change o assisting reef coral species to evolve and adapt to the changing environment, to minimise the need for ongoing intervention o supporting natural restoration of damaged and degraded reefs. The interventions would be implemented at an effective scale if, when and where it was decided action was needed. The RRAP R&D Program aims to achieve the best outcomes under a wide range of possible climate change scenarios. A 1:40 animation For more information: www.GBRrestoration.org
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Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program