The Great Barrier Reef is Australia’s natural wonder, a part of our national identity, loved and revered around the world.
Stretching for more than 2,000 kilometres, the World Heritage area is a vast network of coral reefs, mangroves forests, seagrass meadows and many other ecosystems that host iconic species such as whales, dolphins, marine turtles, dugongs and more than 1,600 species of fish.
The Reef’s inscription on the World Heritage List forty years ago noted its superlative natural
beauty.
Sadly, the Reef is no longer as biodiverse as it was then and in parts its beauty is diminished.
UNESCO has recommended to the World Heritage Committee placing the Great Barrier Reef on the List of World Heritage in Danger. The recommendation is based on the best available science from Australian and Queensland government reports.
In 2019, the Australian Government downgraded the outlook for the Reef to ‘very poor’. This was predominantly due to two severe coral bleaching events in 2016 and 2017 fueled by global heating. There was a further severe event in 2020.
Despite some progress to reduce agricultural pollution in some catchments, the overall condition of the inshore environment remains poor. Illegal fishing and the capture of threatened species (such as turtles) remain a high risk.
We acknowledge that the Australian and Queensland Governments have made new investments to tackle local threats and there has been significant progress in strengthening Queensland’s laws and regulations.
However, the level of effort is not adequate to match the threats. This is particularly the case with climate change where the Australian Government’s lack of leadership has left
Australia ranked last on climate action out of UN member countries. (1)
We urge the World Heritage Committee to act on the advice of IUCN, which last year downgraded the Reef’s outlook to critical.
We urge the Committee to call on Australia to put in place ‘corrective measures’ addressing climate change and local threats. A national plan compatible with 1.5°C of warming is a critical threshold for the Great Barrier Reef.
We urge the Committee to put science before politics; conservation and protection before national interest; and to uphold the spirit and letter of the Convention.
We look to the World Heritage Committee to endorse UNESCO’s draft decision.
Endorsed by:
| Dr Aila Keto AO President Australian Rainforest Conservation Society, Adjunct Prof, Winner of the Volvo environment prize | Adjunct A/Prof Alastair Birtles Marine Biology, James Cook University | Dr Anika Molesworth Founder Farmers for Climate Action, agroecology scientist and author |
| Belinda Baggs World champion surfer, co-founder of Surfers For Climate | Ben Oquist Executive Director, The Australia Institute | Bernard Fanning Musician, lead vocalist Powderfinger |
| The Hon. Bob Debus AM Chair, Colong Foundation for Wilderness, former Minister for Environment NSW | Adjunct Professor Bill Hare Climate scientist, CEO Climate Analytics, Murdoch University | Dr Charlie Veron OAM Former Chief Scientist AIMS, ‘godfather of coral’, author |
| Dan Ilic Presenter, comedian, filmmaker | Damon Gameau Film director – ‘2040′, ‘That Sugar Film’, and actor | David Thomas AM Founder of The Thomas Foundation, initiator of the Fight for the Reef campaign (2013-16) |
| David Williamson AO Australia’s most published playwright | Dr Dean Miller Marine biologist, Managing Director of Great Barrier Reef Legacy | Di Morrissey AM Author of 27 best-selling novels, environmentalist |
| Diane Tarte Reef water quality expert | Dr Eddie Hegerl AO Marine biologist, key figure in Save the Reef campaign, 1960-2000s | Eddie Smallwood Bindal Traditional Owner, Chairperson of Gudjuda Reference Group |
| A/Prof Elizabeth Tynan Award winning author and Associate Professor James Cook University | Father Chris Riley Advocate and carer for disadvantaged young people and voice for injustice | Geoffrey Cousins AM Businessman, environmentalist, author and community leader |
| Geraldine Brooks AO Journalist, novelist and Pulitzer prize winner | Graeme Kelleher AO Former Chair and CEO, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority | Hayley Morris Businesswoman, philanthropist, Executive Director of The Morris Group |
| Heidi Lenffer Musician, founder of FEAT solar investment movement led by artists | Imogen Zethoven AO Conservation advocate, advisor to Australian Marine Conservation Society | Isabel Durant Actor and danc |
| Prof John Quiggin Professor in Economics, University of Queensland | Dr Jon Day PSM Former member Australian Government World Heritage delegation (2007-2011) | Kristin Williamson Journalist and author |
| Laura Wells Scientist, environmentalist, model, TV presenter | A/Prof Linda Selvey Public health physician, epidemiologist, University of Queensland | Lisa Blair Australian Adventurer – Three times World Record Holder for sailing |
| Dr Lindsay Simpson Award winning author, journalist and Reef tourism operator | Mike Berwick AM Five term Douglas mayor, senior corporate advisor | Mike Cannon-Brookes Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Atlassian |
| Mike Munro AM Journalist and TV presenter, formerly with 60 Minutes | Montaigne Singer/songwriter | Prof Ove Hoegh-Guldberg ARC Centre for Excellence in Coral Reef Studies, University of Queensland |
| Paul Aubin Founder of CAREFISH | The Hon Peter Garrett AM Midnight Oil lead singer, former Australian Environment Minister | Adjunct Prof Peter Valentine Conservation Science, James Cook University, World Heritage expert |
| Phil Rist CEO – Girringun Aboriginal Corporation | Prof Richard Kenchington Professorial Fellow, University of Wollongong, formerly Executive Director of GBRMPA | Richard Leck Head of Oceans, WWF-Australia |
| Rob Purves AM Businessman, philanthropist, founder of Purves Environmental Fund | Rowland Hill Director (2007-2020) of The Thomas Foundation | A/Prof Sarah Hamylton President, Australian Coral Reef Society |
| Simon Baker Hollywood Actor and Director | Sue Sargent Marine Scientist and Educator | Prof Terry Hughes ARC Centre of Excellence in Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University |
| Prof Tilman Ruff AO Advocate for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament | Tim Winton Writer, four times winner of the Miles Franklin Award and AMCS Patron | Dr Vanessa Pirotta Marine scientist, Macquarie University |