Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

The question is to the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Water, Senator Wong. It's been reported that 44 per cent of the world's oceans are currently experiencing measured marine heatwaves. We're experiencing record ocean temperatures in the north Atlantic, the Mediterranean and the Gulf of Mexico and unprecedented low levels of winter sea ice in Antarctica. Last week, waters off the coast of the US state of Florida hit 38.8 degrees Celsius—the highest in recorded history anywhere—causing widespread, immediate coral bleaching. Senator Wong, do you acknowledge that these ocean-warming events are climate change, linked to rising global emissions largely caused by the burning of fossil fuels?