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Oil and Gas Expansion Threatens Ocean Life in One of World’s Most Biodiverse Marine Regions, Warns New Report
Fossil fuel development in the Coral Triangle overlaps with environmentally-sensitive areas, threatening marine biodiversity and human livelihoods
Cali, Colombia – COP 16 (26 October 2024) — Oil and gas concessions and production areas in the Coral Triangle region overlap with tens of thousands of kilometers of marine protected areas, which include mangroves, coral reefs, and seagrass habitats, according to new analysis from Earth Insight, SkyTruth, CEED Philippines, and others, released today. The findings in Coral Triangle at Risk: Fossil Fuel Threats and Impacts were collected from satellite imagery and data analysis of the region. The report warns that fossil fuel expansion will increase tanker traffic and the risk of oil spills, with dire consequences for local populations and marine life. The Coral Triangle extends over 10 million square kilometers (4 million square miles), spanning seven countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, the Philippines, Timor-Leste, and the Solomon Islands.
Known as the ‘Amazon of the seas’, the Coral Triangle is one of the most biodiverse marine regions in the world and the threat from oil and gas expansion is immense. The Coral Triangle contains more than 600 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). About 16% of the protected area overlaps with oil and gas blocks – a large majority of which are still in the exploration phase.
Additional key findings from this study include:
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- There are more than 100 known offshore oil and gas blocks that are currently producing in the region covering over 120,000 square kilometers of marine area – about 1% of the Coral Triangle.
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- 24% of coral reefs, 22% of seagrass areas, and 37% of mangroves overlap with current or planned oil and gas blocks.
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- 11% of Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) and Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMA) in the Coral Triangle is overlapped by oil and gas blocks.
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- There are over 450 known blocks that are being explored for future oil and gas extraction covering an additional 1.6 million square kilometers, an area larger than Indonesia.
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- Since 2020, 793 oil slicks have been visible in the Coral Triangle in satellite imagery – 98% were created by transiting vessels, which release untreated, oily wastewater in a process called bilge dumping, the other 2% can be attributed to oil infrastructure.
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- There are 80 MPAs in the Coral Triangle that are completely covered by oil & gas blocks – 55 of which are found in Malaysian waters. Additionally, 35 oil slicks appeared within MPA boundaries.
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- Cumulatively, all slicks covered an area over 24,000 square kilometers – nearly enough oil to cover the land in the Solomon Islands.
Between 2016 and 2022, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and other countries in Southeast Asia invested more than $30 billion in LNG. Methane gas, the main component of LNG, is a potent greenhouse gas that has a warming potential about 80 times higher than carbon dioxide. Methane is known to enter the atmosphere from LNG-fueled ships when unburned fuel leaks from the engine or when plumes are emitted at port by tankers loading or unloading cargo. With more fossil fuel developments, tanker traffic in the region will also increase, the report warns. This will bring higher risks of oil spills, with dramatic consequences for marine ecosystems and coastal communities, which rely on a healthy ocean for food and income. The west part of the Coral Triangle is already one of the world’s busiest marine routes.
The oil slick data was collected and analyzed using Cerulean, a free, publicly available technology that uses AI and satellite imagery to track ocean oil pollution and its potential sources around the world.
The report makes several recommendations to preserve biodiversity in the region including:
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- A moratorium on oil, gas, mining, and other industrial activities in the environmentally-sensitive areas within the Coral Triangle
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- Leapfrogging the use of LNG as a transition fuel and instead developing renewable energy plans that allow for a true, clean, sustainable energy transition
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- Designating the Coral Triangle as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area, which needs special protection from shipping because of its ecological, socio-economic, and cultural significance and vulnerability to damage and impacts by maritime activities.
Preview the report below or download the report and graphics here.