Aust has reef responsibility: scientists
Leading climate scientists say Australia's politicians have a responsibility to help protect the Great Barrier Reef and stop the harsher elements of droughts.
Scientists are calling for drastic changes in global society to prevent world temperatures from rising by two degrees Celsius.
A report released on Monday, which references more than 6000 scientific studies, says there are major benefits if global warming is limited to 1.5C compared to 2C.
That includes saving parts of the Great Barrier Reef and limiting the effects of drought in Australia.
Even with a temperature increase of 1.5C, coral reefs are expected to decline by 70-90 per cent.
If temperatures go up by 2C, then almost all coral reefs in the world would start dying off, according to the report.
Climate Analytics chief Bill Hare said Australia could lead the way in helping keep temperatures lower.
"We are experiencing a very severe drought now," Mr Hare told ABC TV on Monday.
"What this report shows is that these kind of problems, the heat, the drought, are going to get significantly worse and rapidly so.
"That is where I think the politicians need to really start taking notice in Australia."
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia would meet its emissions reduction targets, but he also wants to keep power prices low.
The coalition government will not renew or replace the Renewable Energy Target when it lapses in 2020.
Labor frontbencher Penny Wong said climate policy had stagnated by internal fighting within the coalition.
"We can't have climate action held back because Tony Abbott wants a fight or Malcolm Turnbull was too weak or Scott Morrison hasn't got a policy," she said on Monday.
