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CLIMATE SCIENCE
Cash crunch for Paris conference: UN climate chief
by Staff Writers
Bonn (AFP) Aug 31, 2015


Qatar coral reef at risk from warming seas
Doha (AFP) Aug 31, 2015 - High sea temperatures off the coast of Qatar threaten precious coral reef and have caused mass deaths among some 20 types of fish, Doha-based marine researchers said on Monday.

A study carried out by experts from Qatar University, the environment ministry and the interior ministry last week has revealed that water temperatures during the fierce Gulf summer have passed 36 degrees celsius (97 farenheit).

Researchers said there is a cause for concern to marine life once sea temperatures pass 34 degrees.

Although the phenomenon can occur once every two or three years at the height of the summer, researchers told AFP they are especially concerned about the potential long-term impact on the coral reef in waters surrounding Qatar.

"I am really worried about the coral reef," said Qatar University marine biology professor Ibrahim Al-Maslamani.

"The coral reef may be affected by the temperature, we don't know yet. Thirty-six degrees, this is really too much. It's really sensitive to high temperatures."

"If the system shuts down it will really be a disaster," he added.

There are several areas along the Qatari coastline where coral reef can be found, including the offshore Halul Island, which is northeast of the capital Doha.

As well as the heat's potential impact on the reef, fish have also been affected, said Maslamani.

He estimates that fish among "more than 18" different species have been killed by the high temperatures and a low level of dissolved oxygen in sea waters.

- Fish mortality -

Among the species impacted in the past week are Safi, an edible local type of rabbitfish, and Jesh, also known as the Gold Spotted Trevally.

Less mobile fish which swim closer to the sea bed are thought to be most at risk because of changes in water temperatures.

Maslamani said further study was needed to determine just exactly how many different species of fish perished during the high summer temperatures.

The work carried out last week from a research vessel included studying samples of dead fish as well as monitoring the physical characteristics of sea water to a depth of 29 metres (95 feet).

Water salinity and purity were among the other factors also tested by the team of researchers.

The study also found that sea bed temperatures reached up to 35.9 degrees Celsius in the past week.

Maslamani's Qatar University colleague, professor Ibrahim Mohamed Al-Ansari, said the particularly high sea temperatures can occur in the region every "two or three years during the last week of August and the first week of September".

Qatar University has been monitoring fish mortality since the mid-1990s.

Almost two decades ago, Ansari found that high sea temperatures were the cause for some 40 tonnes of fish dying in the waters off Qatar.

Further tests are expected to be carried out in the next few weeks by the same researchers to determine the potential for any long-term damage caused by warmer waters.

It is expected that water temperatures will fall slightly through September.

Crunch climate negotiations opened in Bonn Monday with a UN official urging countries to replenish coffers for the critical Paris conference tasked with sealing a global carbon-curbing pact in December.

UN climate chief Christiana Figueres told delegates there was a deficit of 1.2 million euros ($1.3 million) for the November 30-December 11 UN Conference of Parties (COP 21) as well as the final pre-Paris negotiating round in Bonn in October.

"I regret to inform you that we have a deficit now of 1.2 million euros just to cover the sessions you have in your calendar," she told delegates.

She asked "parties in a position to do so, to please contribute."

Diplomats gathered in the former West German capital for the penultimate round of official negotiations to craft a workable draft of the deal that must be inked by 195 nations in just over three months.

Due to take effect in 2020, it will be the first agreement to commit all nations to reducing planet-harming greenhouse gas emissions in pursuit of the UN goal to limit average global warming to two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) over pre-Industrial Revolution levels.

Including this week's talks in Bonn, there are just 10 official negotiating days left to refine the draft pact.

Currently, it is an 83-page laundry list of contradictory proposals for dealing with the climate crisis -- sometimes with as many as 11 options listed per item.

At the opening session, negotiators set themselves the task of producing a more concise version for political leaders who will ultimately make the concessions required to make the pact a reality.

But the disagreements are fundamental and deep-rooted.

Countries differ on how to divvy out responsibility for carbon cuts between rich nations -- which have polluted for much longer -- and developing countries, which need to power fast-growing populations and economies.

And developing nations are insisting that rich nations show how they intend keeping a promise made at the Copenhagen climate conference in 2009, which failed to produce a pact, of $100 billion (89 billion euros) in climate finance per year from 2020.

- Money matters -

Now money worries is also putting pressure on the negotiations themselves.

There was a shortfall of 900,000 euros, Figueres said, for the costs of one representative per negotiating party for the October talks, and three representatives per party for the COP itself.

"In addition to that we're still in deficit of 300,000 euros for the meeting itself, for October," she said.

South Africa's representative at the talks Nozipho Mxakato-Diseko said many developing countries were "handicapped" at the talks "due to being under-represented" for lack of funds.

Negotiators pointed out that time was running out for the near decade-long bid for a universal climate rescue pact.

"We do not have much time left," said the representative from Dominica, the tiny Caribbean island nation hit by tropical storm Erika over the weekend, killing at least 20 people.

- Too late for some -

"Many people are dead. Many are missing. Roads, bridges and houses are destroyed. Once again, one of us -- the developing countries -- the countries that did not generate climate change, the countries that are doing the most to reduce emissions, is standing here to call the attention on a tragedy that could have been avoided," he said.

"Effective action is urgent."

The Paris pact will be supported by a roster of national emissions-curbing pledges, but scientists warn that based on the voluntary submissions so far, the world is on track for warming way above 2 degrees Celsius -- a recipe for ever more extreme droughts and floods, disease spread and rising sea levels.


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