"Cutting funding would be a very,very foolish thing to do. I understand we are in all sorts of problems economically,but we need to maintain a priority for climate change and for the environment,"Great Barrier Reef Special Envoy Warren Entsch toldThe Sydney Morning Herald andThe Age.
![Climate change is the single greatest threat to the Great Barrier Reef's long-term health,Warren Entsch said.](https://static.ffx.io/images/$width_300%2C$height_150/t_crop_auto/t_sharpen%2Cq_auto%2Cf_auto/8023122f357502036e355c56207d819f00aa79cf)
Climate change is the single greatest threat to the Great Barrier Reef's long-term health,Warren Entsch said.Great Barrier Reef Foundation
"It would be false economy not to make sure we maintain our investment in the reef. It's been quite significant to date,but we haven't dealt with all the issues yet."
The Queensland MP's Special Envoy report to Environment Minister Sussan Ley repeated his last year that climate change is the"single greatest threat"to the Reef's long-term health.
Initiatives to improve the environment and reduce global warming"may end up being deemed as'less-essential'in the post COVID-19 wash up",he said.
"While I agree that we need to shore up our economic situation and lead a growth-orientated response,I believe that in doing so,we must not accept a scaled back response to climate change. If anything,it should be greater."
![Great Barrier Reef Special Envoy and Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch with Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Cairns last year.](https://static.ffx.io/images/$width_300%2C$height_150/t_crop_auto/t_sharpen%2Cq_auto%2Cf_auto/41f25d72a97e62e54adba381793e0486b08f2134)
Great Barrier Reef Special Envoy and Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch with Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Cairns last year.Dominic Lorrimer
Mr Entsch emphasised the reef's crucial role in and said"Far North Queensland has practically fallen off a cliff overnight and the impacts have been utterly devastating".
Mr Entsch was appointed to the Special Envoy role after the May 2019 election to consult with scientists,community groups and industry and advocate on policy development.
Ms Ley said Mr Entsch was doing an"an outstanding job"and the government was acting on the issues he raised.
"He highlights the absolute importance of investing in the environment and in the Morrison government maintaining strategies to reduce global emissions,and that is exactly what we are doing,"Ms Ley said.
The,with the aim of attracting $100 million from private investors as well.
While Mr Entsch's report was submitted to Ms Ley,he said he continued to"make representations"to Emissions Reduction Minister Angus Taylor over the growing impact of global warming on the World Heritage listed coral ecosystem.
The federal government's for 2019 showed"the ecosystem is still deteriorating"and found global warming to be its biggest threat.
A recent study by the Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies found more than 60 per cent of the reef ecosystem had suffered in a bleaching event caused by global warming earlier this year.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts the current trajectory of global warming will lead to decline in more than 90 per cent of coral reefs around the world.
Mr Entsch said the government's international reputation on the environment went"hand in hand"with its record on greenhouse gas emissions.
"While we do great work on the Reef and globally we are recognised as the best reef managers in the world,conversely Australia's record on climate change falls short of attaining similar levels of prestige,"he said.
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