Writer
Imogen Zethoven
Imogen Zethoven is director of Blue Ocean Consulting and an expert on the Great Barrier Reef.
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The terrible reality: Great Barrier Reef on threshold of rapid deterioration
Ten years ago, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority wrote in a submission to the federal government that 1.2°C was a key threshold for the Reef. Beyond that, there would be a rapid deterioration in the extent of hard coral cover. The terrible reality is that we are already at 1.1°C of global warming Continue reading »
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UNESCO calls on Australia to commit to 1.5°C limit to protect the Great Barrier Reef
UNESCO has once again raised the alarm about the state of the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef. Continue reading »
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The Great Barrier to understanding the Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is a vast and complex ecosystem. Sometimes headline statements about its health can appear confusing and even contradictory. Continue reading »
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The Great Barrier Reef: the ultimate test of an ambitious climate policy
France’s Ambassador to Australia Jean-Pierre Thébault has called the Albanese Government’s climate position ambitious. But is it enough for the survival of the Great Barrier Reef? Continue reading »
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International mission to decide on Morrison Government’s climate and reef policies
So, is the Morrison Government doing enough to secure the protection of the Great Barrier Reef? The question is almost absurd. The answer is a deafening no. Continue reading »
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Biggest barrier to saving the Reef is a political class in climate denial
The Morrison government is actively supporting new coal mines and massive new gas developments that will overwhelm all other efforts. Continue reading »
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The Great Barrier Reef in danger. But is there a China conspiracy afoot?
The Government deliberately fuelled a conspiracy theory that China must have been involved in the UNESCO report. It is alleged that the Prime Minister’s Office backgrounded journalists along these lines for the first 24 hours of the release. The Australian ran a story, China-led ‘ambush’ on health of the Reef. This was a complete fabrication Continue reading »
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Coral Reef Forecast: grim but hope and action will ensure survival
Australia’s mish mash of climate policies are consistent with a 2.5 – 3.0°C rise in global average temperature compared to pre-industrial levels. That would wipe out all the world’s coral reefs, force half a billion people into food insecurity and destroy one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Continue reading »
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IMOGEN ZETHOVEN. The coral bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef continues.
As the novel coronavirus engulfs the world’s attention, the Great Barrier Reef is still suffering from coral bleaching and the government is pursuing a novel approach to its protection, without confronting the main threat. Continue reading »
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IMOGEN ZETHOVEN. After the bushfires comes the bleaching
After a summer of intense heat, drought, bushfires, hailstones and floods, we now have another climate-change driven disaster emerging. Continue reading »
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IMOGEN ZETHOVEN. Judgement Day for the Great Barrier Reef is Looming
Recently I was talking to a political insider in Canberra who told me he’d heard on numerous occasions at dinner parties that tragically the Great Barrier Reef is dead. Continue reading »
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IMOGEN ZETHOVEN. The Tourism Industry Calls for Climate Action
It’s not hard to find bad news about the Great Barrier Reef but amongst the grim reports, there are signs of hope. First the bad news: The Australian Institute of Marine Science recently released its annual findings on the state of the Great Barrier Reef. Hard coral cover has shown a steep decline throughout the Continue reading »
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IMOGEN ZETHOVEN. Outsourcing Reef Protection.
The outsourcing of nearly half a billion dollars of taxpayer funds to an independent Foundation to protect the Great Barrier Reef is unusual by any measure. Continue reading »
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Rescuing the Reef … again.
There must be a federal election coming as the government has announced a rescue package for the Great Barrier Reef. Like a damsel (fish) in distress, the Reef has experienced many rescue packages. As early as the mid-1990’s, the federal government introduced the Sugar Coast Environment Rescue Package which aimed to preserve important lowland habitats along Continue reading »
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IMOGEN ZETHOVEN. Trashing our Global Ocean Leadership.
Australia was once a global leader in marine protection. Today, we have fallen spectacularly from grace. The Commonwealth marine park plans tabled recently in federal Parliament represent a triumph for the oil, gas and fishing industries and a massive backward step for our threatened oceans. Continue reading »
