UNESCO urges Australia to set more ambitious climate targets to protect Great Barrier Reef

A UNESCO report published yesterday includes a list of recommendations for the preservation of the Great Barrier Reef’s status as a world heritage site.

While the Reef has escaped being classed ‘in danger’ for now, the Australian Government must submit a progress report to the UNESCO World Heritage committee by February 2025.

This will be the 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

Ahead of this progress report submission, UNESCO is urging Australia to set more ambitious climate targets for the Great Barrier Reef’s protection. If they are not satisfied, then the UNESCO committee “could consider the inclusion of the property on the list of world heritage in danger” at its 2026 meeting.

UNESCO is concerned that Australia’s land clearing in catchments which flow into the reef was “incompatible” with targets to cut sediments and nutrients running into the reef while they also expressed their dismay over the mass coral bleaching event that swept across the reef this summer, urging Australia to make public the extent of coral death “as soon as possible”.

The Australian and Queensland Governments welcomed UNESCO’s latest draft decision on the Great Barrier Reef – not classifying it as being ‘in danger’ and consider this as a positive response to their continued efforts to make significant progress on climate change, water quality and sustainable fishing to protect the World Heritage icon.

Dr Lissa Schindler, reef campaigner at the Australian Marine Conservation Society notes “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.”

Tanya Plibersek, Federal Minister for the Environment and Water has once again responded with noting that Australia had a duty to safeguard the reef and protect it for future generations adding “we also know the world is watching us.

“We need to act on climate change. We need to protect our special places and the animals that call them home. And that is precisely what we are doing.”

Richard Leck, head of oceans at WWF-Australia, said the world heritage committee should be asked to consider the reef’s status in 2025, not 2026.

He said the government needed to commit to a 90% cut to emissions from 2005 levels by 2035, end new fossil fuel projects, support a global phase-out of fossil fuels and take stronger steps to slow land clearing.

​The Australian and Queensland government’s have highlighted their actions to date towards achieving UNESCO requirements:

The Australian Government has:​

• Invested a record $1.2 billion in the Reef

• Legislated to reach net zero, with a 43% emissions reduction target by 2030 and committed to reaching 82% renewable energy supply by 2030

• Accelerated water quality improvements through $200 million for projects such as revegetation, grazing management and engineering work like gully stabilisation

• Introduced legislation to establish an independent Environment Protection Agency and increase penalties for illegal land clearing

• Rejected a coal mine that could have direct impacts on the Reef

• Withdrawn federal funding for dams that would have had a detrimental impact on Reef water quality

• Doubled funding for Reef science

• Engaged more Indigenous Rangers to manage sea country, including combatting crown of thorns starfish outbreaks, marine plastics and ghost nets

The Queensland Government has:​

• Invested more than $1 billion since 2015 in reef protection initiatives and programs

• Achieved a 35% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions based on 2005 levels

• Legislated a 75% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions on 2005 levels by 2035 and net zero emissions by 2050

• Legislated the $62 billion Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, including an historic expansion of solar and wind power which will deliver a 90% reduction of electricity emissions on 2005 levels by 2035-36

• Committed close to $290 million to the Queensland Reef Water Quality Program to improve reef water quality

• With the Australian Government, commenced the phase-out of gillnets in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park with a more than $185 million package – protecting dugongs, dolphins, sharks and turtles

The UNESCO report, co-written with scientific experts at the International Union for Conservation of Nature, includes a set of draft decisions which act like recommendations for the world heritage committee’s 10-day meeting in India starting on 21st July. The draft decision will be considered at this 46th session of the World Heritage Committee in New Delhi in July.