Children of the Coral Triangle - Photo credit: Yee I-Lann

A lonely boat at the Coral Triangle - Photo Credit: Yee I-Lann

Map of the Coral Triangle

CLIMATE CHANGE: A REALITY FOR SABAH BY 2050?

* FROM A PRESS RELEASE SENT BY GREEN SURF, A COALITION OF 5 NGOs.

KOTA KINABALU, 11^th April 2010: Rising sea levels and death of corals from warmer waters will cause food sources for coastal communities in the Coral Triangle region, of which Sabah’s east and north coasts are part of, to go down by half in 40 years.

A rapidly changing climate is also projected to cause Sabah, the Philippines and parts of Indonesia to be hit hard by increasingly intense rainfall that alternates with long and severe drought, following change in precipitation and soaring temperatures by 2050.

A summary report that investigated conclusions of over 300 scientific studies and consulted more than 20 experts, said in this “worst case scenario,” millions in the region will be forced to move when they lose homes, food and income.

It also states that dramatic changes are needed on energy use to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The report titled “The Coral Triangle and Climate Change: Ecosystems, People and Societies at Risk,” brings together information on the climate, biology, economics, and social dynamics in the region and builds a picture of two possible future scenarios.

In the “worst case scenario,” the world only takes moderate steps to deal with climate change, continues to globalise and is driven purely by economic urgencies.

Strong action on climate change, robust regional and international commitments on environmental concerns and human welfare are integrated with economic goals in the second situation, described as “best case scenario.”

Interestingly, even in the “best case scenario,” availability of protein from fisheries will be reduced by 50 per cent in 2050 compared to present levels, the 34-page report prepared by WWF Australia and the University of Queensland said.

While warming and acidifying seas lead to a steady deterioration of coastal ecosystems in both scenarios, if governments and communities opt for effective management of resources, this will delay their decline, followed by recovery and expansion of ecosystems in the early part of the next century.

Projections from the report are reflective of other findings for Sabah, including a revelation on Wednesday that the mean annual temperature in Kota Kinabalu has gone up by 0.9 degree Celsius since the 1960s, while the biodiversity rich Danum Valley has seen a hike of 0.4 degree Celsius in three decades.

Swansea University’s Professor Dr Rory Walsh who spoke at the Yayasan Sabah organised Borneo International Conference, said annual rainfall in Danum Valley has risen by 19 per cent in the last 11 years, with sharp increases in frequency of large rainstorms in most stations in the state.

“These recent changes appear to conform to some extent with global warming predictions. Although increased rainfall should mean an increase in water resources, it is accompanied by increased year-to-year variability and rise in frequency of dry periods, which may mean increased frequency of water shortages,” Walsh said.

At another seminar this week, it was revealed that montane moth species of Mount Kinabalu, a World Heritage Site, are under threat of extinction due to global warming.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Emeritus Professor in Botany and Biodiversity, Datuk Dr Latiff Mohamad, said studies show that moth species are moving up the mountain because of changes in climate and temperature.

The Coral Triangle that covers parts of or whole of six nations – Malaysia (Sabah), eastern part of Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Solomon Islands – is the richest place on earth in terms of biodiversity.

Though it covers only one per cent of the earth’s surface, it is home to over 30 per cent of the world’s coral reefs and slightly more than a third of the world’s coral reef fish species.

Over 150 million live in the region, including 100 million who stay along coasts, depending on healthy ecosystems that provide food, building materials and support industries like fishing and tourism.

“The rich and unique environmental assets of the Coral Triangle underpin the future economic benefits for the region. Not to take care of these resources could mean losing them.

“In many ways, the choice that leaders of the Coral Triangle countries face is about sustainable economic growth.

“Effective action on climate change and the many stresses that threaten crucial ecosystems will safeguard economies and protect the livelihoods of a vast number of people. That choice should be easy to make,” the report said.

Last May, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak who attended the Coral Triangle Initiative Summit in Indonesia, joined leaders from the region to sign a statement that focused on protecting coral reefs and food security.

Najib also announced the Prime Scientific Sailing Expedition at territorial waters within the Sulu and Sulawesi seas off Sabah to find out potential of what the region has to offer to communities and eco-tourism.

In October last year, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili said the 52-day expedition found many untapped resources and new marine species that could create spin-offs.

“We need to reduce haphazard coastal and marine planning practices and instead employ adaptive measures to reduce impacts of multi-hazards caused by climate change and rising sea levels," Ongkili was quoted as saying.

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