- Australia must report to UNESCO in February 2025 on further progress to better protect Great Barrier Reef
- UNESCO recommends the Australian Govt does more to battle climate change, lifting greenhouse gas reduction targets in line with keeping average global temperature rise to 1.5oC – a critical threshold for coral reefs
- UNESCO recommends Queensland and federal governments strengthen controls to stop clearing of high-quality vegetation in Reef catchments, especially along watercourse and in controversial Category X lands
- Reef has suffered worst summer on record with cyclones, severe flooding and fifth mass bleaching event in past eight years – the most extreme and widespread
For a third successive year, the Australian and Queensland governments have been put on probation for their management of the health of the Great Barrier Reef with the Reef sufferings its fifth mass bleaching event in eight years, the Australian Marine Conservation Society said after World Heritage advisers UNESCO recommended yet another review of the Reef’s health next year.
UNESCO has recommended holding off listing the Great Barrier Reef as a World Heritage property “In Danger” this year, with the World Heritage Committee considering whether to accept the draft decision at its meeting in July. UNESCO will wait for more information to inform its future decision, including the coral mortality data from this year’s mass bleaching event.
AMCS Great Barrier Reef Campaign Manager Dr Lissa Schindler said: “The World Heritage watchdog UNESCO has again recommended that Australia’s management of the Great Barrier Reef be kept under the spotlight, wanting an update in just seven months’ time, and will review our global icon for potential listing as ‘In Danger’ in the future.
“Over the past 10 years the World Heritage Committee has been clear on what Australia needs to do to better protect the Reef and avoid an ‘In Danger’ listing. The Albanese government has made more commitments than the previous government, but Australia still needs to do more to tackle climate change and cut water pollution in Reef waters. Requesting a report back next year really emphasises UNESCO’s concern on this.
“The Great Barrier Reef has just experienced one of the worst bleaching events on record, the fifth mass bleaching event in eight years, caused by climate change, the greatest threat to the Reef. The impacts of climate change are worsening, yet the Australian Government has not committed to the full reform of our national environmental laws to deal with climate-polluting projects or its commitments to cut carbon pollution.
“UNESCO has clearly stated it wants the Australian Government to aim for higher greenhouse gas cuts to keep average global temperature rise to 1.5oC – a critical threshold for the survival of coral reefs. That would mean Australia committing to net-zero emissions by 2035. The OECD’s conservative International Energy Agency has said we cannot start any new fossil fuel projects if we are to keep global warming to 1.5oC.
“UNESCO continues to be concerned about progress in addressing water pollution with good reason. Onground action on addressing water pollution is glacial, while deforestation in Reef catchments, especially along watercourses, is rampant. We need to cut water pollution, such as sediment and fertilisers, in Reef waters by stopping tree clearing in Reef catchments, and protecting and restoring wetlands and mangroves, which help trap pollutants.
“UNESCO recommends the Queensland and federal governments strengthen controls to stop tree clearing of high-quality vegetation in Reef catchments, especially along watercourse and even on Category X land, where no clearing approvals are necessary.
“The Great Barrier Reef has suffered its worst summer on record, facing cyclones, severe flooding, crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks and its fifth mass bleaching event in the last eight years – the most extreme and most widespread we have ever seen.
“Australia must increase its ambition, action and commitments to protect the Great Barrier Reef, or an ‘In Danger’ listing is inevitable.”