The Great Barrier Reef is an iconic World Heritage site, a treasured place of Outstanding Universal Value to all humanity.
Its immense beauty and biodiversity have inspired millions around the world. But its future is at stake. The climate emergency is already evident in the Great Barrier Reef.
Over the past five years, three severe coral bleaching events fuelled by global warming have caused mass coral mortality.
The scientific evidence is beyond doubt: the Great Barrier Reef is in danger and it is time to act.
We therefore support UNESCO’s recommendation to the World Heritage Committee to inscribe the Great Barrier Reef on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C is a critical threshold for the Great Barrier Reef.
We urge Australia – as the custodian of the Reef – to implement a national plan compatible with 1.5°C.
We urge the world’s major emitters to undertake the most ambitious climate action under the Paris Agreement.
There is still time to save the Great Barrier Reef, but Australia and the world must act now. We commend UNESCO for its leadership. We urge the World Heritage Committee to endorse UNESCO’s recommendation.
| HSH Prince Albert II Sovereign Prince of Monaco | Philippe Cousteau Journalist, explorer and ocean advocate | Ashlan Gorse Cousteau Journalist, explorer and ocean advocate |
| Sylvia Earle President and Chairman of Mission Blue, Ocean Elder | Callum Roberts Professor of Marine Conservation and author | Christiana Figueres Founding Partner, Global Optimism and former Executive Secretary, UNFCCC |
| José María Figueres Former President of Costa Rica and Co-Founder of Ocean Unite | Adrian Grenier Actor, environmental activist, film-maker and UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador | Mohamed Nasheed GCSK Former President of the Maldives |
| Joanna Lumley OBE FRGS Actor, producer, activist | Lewis Pugh OIG Ocean advocate, pioneer swimmer, UN Patron of the Oceans | Enric Sala National Geographic explorer-in-residence, Pristine Seas |
| Jason Momoa Actor, producer and environmentalist | Cody Simpson Musician |