The future for sharks: adapt, move, or die
A new study suggests sharks will need to adapt, move or die as climate change could soon render their nurseries uninhabitable. Baby sharks rely on coastal nursery-like spaces such as shallow lagoons
ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
James Cook University Townsville
Queensland 4811 Australia
Phone: 61 7 4781 4000
Email: info@coralcoe.org.au
Australian scientists have created a world-first tool that can systematically assess climate change risks to all types of World Heritage properties: marine and terrestrial, natural and cultural.
There are nearly 1,100 World Heritage properties, and climate change is their fastest-growing threat.
The Climate Vulnerability Index (CVI) was developed by Mr Jon Day at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (Coral CoE) and Dr Scott Heron at James Cook University (JCU). The pair are presenting their work at the 43rd international meeting of the World Heritage Committee this month.
“While World Heritage areas are ‘the best-of-the best’ globally, many are already experiencing significant negative damage,” Dr Heron said. “They are vulnerable to climate change impacts such as sea level rise, extreme precipitation, rising temperatures, flooding, coastal erosion, drought, worsening wildfires, and human displacement.”
The CVI differs from many other vulnerability assessments as it comprises two distinct stages.
The vulnerability of World Heritage values to physical climate drivers (such as sea level rise) is assessed first.
Then the economic, social and cultural risks for the associated communities—as well as their capacity to adapt—are evaluated.
“The CVI applies a risk-assessment approach that builds upon an existing vulnerability framework used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change,” Mr Day said.
“But ours is the first tool that can be specifically applied to both a World Heritage property and its associated communities,” he said.
The CVI was first trialled last year in Shark Bay, Western Australia—a World Heritage area known for its outstanding natural features. Extreme marine heat events, increasing storm intensity and air temperature change were identified as the key climate drivers impacting both the World Heritage values and the local community.
The first cultural World Heritage property to apply the CVI was ‘The Heart of Neolithic Orkney’ in Scotland—a late Stone Age settlement and series of monuments. Increasing storm intensity and frequency, sea-level rise and precipitation change were identified as the key climate drivers impacting these cultural values. However, the capacity of the local community to adapt moderated the risk. The full report was released this week.
The CVI method is currently in a pilot phase, but the two trials so far have successfully demonstrated its value as a rapid yet robust assessment tool.
Planning is now underway for further CVI workshops in Scotland, as well as in Germany, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and Australia.
CONTACT
Mr Jon Day
E: jon.day@my.jcu.edu.au
Dr Scott Heron
E: scott.heron@jcu.edu.au
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Melissa Lyne
Media Manager, Coral CoE
P: 0415 514 328
E: melissa.lyne@jcu.edu.au
A new study suggests sharks will need to adapt, move or die as climate change could soon render their nurseries uninhabitable. Baby sharks rely on coastal nursery-like spaces such as shallow lagoons
Scientists from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (Coral CoE) this week received two prestigious awards for their interdisciplinary work on solving environmental problems. The Aus
Researchers have found a new way to distinguish and identify coral species—providing crucial information to help manage coral reefs in a warming world. Co-author Professor Andrew Baird from the A
A new study reveals the impacts of multiple climate extremes on coral reefs over the past three decades, with only 2% of the Great Barrier Reef escaping bleaching in that time. Lead author Professor
This talk is the last of the parachute science seminar series organized by the ARC CoE Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) committee. Abstract Universities and institutions across th
This talk is the second of three on parachute science being organized by the ARC CoE Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) committee. Abstract For millenia, Traditional Owners have hel
This talk is the first of three on parachute science being organized by the ARC CoE Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) committee. Abstract Parachute science is the practice whereby
ABSTRACT Climate change loss and damage is known as the “third pillar” of international climate governance in addition to mitigation and adaptation. Although there is no agreed upon definition,
Abstract: The coral reefs of Western Australia (WA) are morphologically diverse, with high levels of biodiversity and endemism. Carbonate forming reefs occur along 20o of latitude, and more than
Abstract: Rainforests are much more than exotic and wondrous fauna and flora, they are the ancestral domain of Indigenous Peoples who have safeguarded them since time immemorial. Learn about this thr
Abstract: Ecological conditions on coral reefs are shifting. Fishes are an integral part of these restructuring ecosystems and can support ecological stability. However, the extent to which fishes wi
ABSTRACT This presentation reports on a journal paper being drafted that has been around 10 years in the making. I set out a long time ago to settle the arguments around protected areas being resid
Partner Research Institutions
ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
James Cook University Townsville
Queensland 4811 Australia
Phone: 61 7 4781 4000
Email: info@coralcoe.org.au