The Great Barrier Reef guarantees more jobs for Australian citizens than those offered by oil and gas companies. And its economic value exceeds that of the entire mining sector. This is indicated by the consultancy firm Deloitte, in a report published on 26 June in which, for the first time, the immense biodiversity reserve is also analysed from a purely economic standpoint.

64,000 jobs against 19,000 from oil and gas giants

The figures contained in the study indicate unequivocally that safeguarding the coral reef does not represent merely a fundamental step for the protection of the ecosystem: also weighing in the balance is its social value (in terms of employment) and its financial value. According to Deloitte, no fewer than 64,000 jobs are guaranteed by the economic activity revolving around the site, whose value has been quantified at 56 billion Australian dollars: the equivalent of approximately 37.8 billion euros. By contrast, mining giants — such as BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto — do not exceed 21 billion Australian dollars (14.2 billion euros). Meanwhile, oil and gas companies offer employment to just 19,000 Australians.

Deloitte Australia ✓ @Green_Dot

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Putting a price on the 'priceless'? We have valued the #greatbarrierreef for @GBRFoundation deloi.tt/2sg36SF

♥ 4 27 giu 2017 · Apri su X →

The data were obtained by analysing the employment generated by tourism, scientific research and fishing activities. The 348,000 square kilometres of the Great Barrier Reef provide in this way around 39,000 direct jobs. The other 25,000 come instead from coastal development in the state of Queensland, including local trade, shipbuilding and maritime transport services. Not to mention the symbolic value that the natural site guarantees Australia.

The Great Barrier Reef is "too big to fail"

This is why Deloitte concludes its study by stating that the coral reef represents a reality that is "too big to fail". A phrase coined during the financial crisis of recent years to identify banks and other financial institutions considered so important that they must be saved at all costs by governments.

The report prompted an immediate reaction from those who oppose a new coal mine in the Galilee Basin, which would be operated by Indian sector giant Adani. It would be the largest extraction site in the world and would be built very close to the Great Barrier Reef, whose survival would consequently be placed in direct jeopardy. In an attempt to win over environmentalists, Adani has always emphasised the thousands of jobs that would be created: now the Deloitte report dismantles even this last, fragile argument.