§ Lord Juddasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their evaluation of the relationship between changes in the world's coral reef systems and climate change; and what action they are taking to stimulate public awareness of any such relationship and its causes. [HL4645]
§ Lord WhittyThe effects of rising sea temperatures and pollution on coral reefs are well documented. The 1995 report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded that increased coral bleaching will occur as a result of an increase in average global atmospheric temperature. In 1998, high sea-surface temperatures caused by E1 Niño resulted in one of the worst coral bleaching events ever recorded in the Indo-West Pacific Oceans between April and June of that year.
The Government published the UK Climate Change Programme on 17 November. This sets out the Government's approach to tackling climate change, including action to raise awareness about the impacts of climate change.
The United Kingdom plays an active role in fora concerned with the conservation of coral reefs, including the International Coral Reef Initiative and the Biodiversity Convention. The UK has committed substantial funding to support the development of improved understanding and better management of coral reef ecosystems. This includes support to the International Oceanographic Commission to establish the South Asia node of the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network, which will, inter alia, raise community-level awareness of coral reef status and resource management issues.
My right honourable friend the Deputy Prime Minister has taken a personal interest in raising awareness of the links between oceans and climate change. This includes pressing for improved international co-ordination on oceans matters at the United Nations and elsewhere, as well as highlighting the importance of coral reef-related resources to the livelihoods of many island communities.