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The Great Barrier Reef Foundation could spend up to $ 840 million to help the reef survive climate change, but will not ask for larger emission reductions despite warnings from the UN commission on the impacts of climate change.
The organization issued an ambitious plan to raise $ 400 million in addition to a $ 440 million grant from the federal government through philanthropy, corporate sponsorship, donations public and resource pooling.
The foundation had only six full-time employees when former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull offered to fund this activity earlier this year, after a rushed meeting in the absence of department staff.
If he wins power in the next federal election, the Labor Party is committed to resuming government funding, which was granted without a call for tenders and without the foundation's request.
The foundation defended the captain's appeal by Mr. Turnbull and stated that she had "the unique ability to leverage private funds" and highlighted her fundraising history of $ 90 million during last 18 years.
The centerpiece of today's new strategy includes a "fundraising campaign" targeting global and national philanthropic sources, up to $ 100 million in funding for the reef restoration program.
Foundation Executive Director Anna Marsden said, thanks to the funds and resources provided by other service delivery partners, these efforts would be transformed into a $ 300 million research effort to develop and implement "advanced new technologies" to repair reef damage and build resilience.
Ms. Marsden stated that this issue has never been addressed in the world.
"How to ensure that our coral reefs can withstand the weather, but also how to rebuild the reefs we lost," she said.
According to the strategy: "Such an effort is attractive to a growing pool of philanthropists … where the investment's attack causes rather than the symptoms of the problems".
However, according to many people involved in research, management and conservation of reefs without reducing emissions, no amount of money can save the reef.
Reef in severe decline under target supported by the foundation
Earlier this week, the world's most influential scientific body specializing in climate science warned that Australia and the rest of the world needed to virtually eliminate the use of coal to produce energy. electricity from here 22 years if we wanted to save part of the Great Barrier Reef.
The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has stated that global emissions of greenhouse gas pollution must be zero by 2050 or so in order to limit global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Coral reefs are expected to decline by another 70 to 90% even with a 1.5 ° C warming, but could be over 99% lost if warming reaches 2 ° C.
This means that the vast majority of the Great Barrier Reef would undergo a major upheaval or collapse, with warming of 1.5 ° C expected by 2040.
As part of the Paris agreement, Australia is committed to reducing its carbon emissions by 26 to 28% from 2005 levels by 2030.
Professor Mark Howden of Australian National University, contributor to the IPCC report, said his country was not on track to save the reef.
"We are currently preparing for a warming of about 3 to 4 degrees by 2100."
Ms Marsden said the foundation supported the current cuts to the Paris agreement to limit warming to 1.5 ° C, but that it was not up to the foundation to plead in favor measures going beyond.
"We are the main charity of the Great Barrier Reef, so we have the role of trying to allow as much funding as possible for powerful projects," she said.
"In fact, if we hope to reach the goal of 1.5, we know that it will mean that we will have many more summers to suffer heavy losses for the Great Barrier Reef, as we have seen these last two years. "
The foundation's president, John Schubert, also told a Senate investigation into last month's funding that the foundation's role was not to advocate for a climate change policy .
"The field of advocacy on environmental issues and climate change is particularly crowded, with so many organizations and people involved in this field trying to gain momentum," he said. .
The Foundation's Board of Directors is made up of 12 people, including Boeing Australia President, Grant King, President of the Business Council of Australia, former CEOs of the mining and banking sector, and a member of the Board of Directors. leader of Qantas.
Some of the largest Australian companies have also disbursed $ 20,000 to serve on the Great Barrier Reef Foundation's Chairman's Committee, including BHP, JP Morgan, Rio Tinto, Shell, AGL, Commonwealth Bank, Deutsche Bank and Boral Limited.
Mr King, former managing director of Origin Electricity and LGA, told the Senate Inquiry Committee that he was not supporting lower emissions cuts than Australia's current commitments. .
Corporate donations are positive for "reputation ratings"
The foundation plans to raise $ 50 million through donations and partnerships.
According to its latest strategy, partner companies were looking for benefits that could improve their image.
"[Such partnerships] Engage employees, position them as an employer of choice and contribute positively to the assessment of the company's reputation or social license, "said the strategy.
The foundation said that it would refuse business grants associated with activities, branding or reputation that would not match its values - including the tobacco industry, crime, pornography, weapons, firearms, ammunition or slavery.
However, Marsden said the foundation would accept funding from fossil fuel companies.
"These are companies that recognize climate change and play their role, ensuring that they contribute to the achievement of the Paris goal," she said.
The strategy noted that the foundation would not allow any financial partner to influence the conduct and results of research and publication of results.
They also indicated that they could also reject donations that could compromise "the integrity, independence, reputation, ability of the foundation to carry out its mission and vision, which dictate its positions or priorities, or its ability to denounce unethical, unjust or dangerous practices ". .
The foundation's strategy also set out to raise $ 7 million from the public through donations, legacies and regular fundraising.
Topics:
Great Barrier Reef,
oceans and reefs,
environment,
agricultural chemicals,
rural,
climate change,
activism and lobbying,
Government and politics,
federal — state-issues,
agricultural crops,
Cairns-4870,
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