Great Barrier Reef should be put on 'in danger' list, UN panel says

Officials have lobbied to keep the reef off endangered list as it could lead to loss of Unesco heritage status

The UN wants the Great Barrier Reef listed on Unesco's 'in danger' list. All photos: AFP

Despite warnings, Australia's efforts to save the Great Barrier Reef still fall short of protecting the world's largest coral reef system from pollution and climate change

A UN panel said the world's biggest coral reef ecosystem had been significantly affected by climate change and warming of oceans

A diver documents the bleached coral at Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef

Bleaching happens when the water warms too much, causing corals to expel the colourful algae living in their tissues and turn white

Sunscreen worn by divers can cause permanent damage to living reefs

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park encompasses about 99 per cent of the World Heritage-listed natural wonder

A variety of marine life has made a home of the Great Barrier Reef

An aerial view of the reef off the coast of the Whitsunday Islands, on the central coast of Queensland

Weeks of unseasonably warm weather is causing the worst mass bleaching in two years

The effect has been widespread and severe, authorities say

Weather patterns over the next few weeks will be critical in determining the overall extent and severity of coral bleaching across the marine park.

While coral can survive bleaching if water temperatures cool again soon, but some coral death has already been seen

The reef has suffered significantly from coral bleaching caused by unusually warm ocean temperatures in 2016, 2017 and 2020

Previous bleaching damaged two thirds of the coral at the famous site

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority manages the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem

UN officials are due to assess whether the reef’s World Heritage listing should be downgraded, due to the ravages of climate change

The UN delegation will inspect the reef’s health next week

Australia's Great Barrier Reef should be listed as a world heritage site "in danger", a UN panel recommended on Tuesday, saying the world's biggest coral reef ecosystem has been significantly affected by climate change and warming oceans.

Frequent bleaching events are threatening the reef, including four in the past seven years and the first during a La Nina phenomenon, which typically brings cooler temperatures, this year.

Bleaching happens when the water warms too much, causing corals to expel the colourful algae living in their tissues and turn white.

Corals are sessile animals that take root on the ocean floor. They can survive bleaching but it can stunt their growth and affects reproduction.

"The resilience of the [reef[ to recover from climate change impacts is substantially compromised," said a report by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) scientists, who visited the reef off the Queensland coast in March.

The report was expected to be released before a meeting of the Unesco world heritage committee in June scheduled to be held in Russia but that was postponed due to the war in Ukraine. Dates for the next meeting have yet to be decided.

Though efforts to address climate change have been stepped up, particularly research on coral restoration, "utmost urgency" is required to save the reef, the report said.

Canberra, the capital of Australia, has lobbied for years to keep the reef — which contributes $4.3 billion to the economy — off the endangered list as it could lead to losing its heritage status, taking some shine off its attraction for tourists.

Prior to Covid-19, about 2 million tourists visited the reef off Australia's north-east coast every year, official data showed, providing jobs for 64,000 people.

Last year, Australia dodged an "in danger" listing for the reef after heavy lobbying by the previous government led Unesco to postpone a decision to this year.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said the government would push Unesco to avoid listing the Great Barrier as endangered because climate change was threatening all coral reefs across the world.

"We'll clearly make the point to Unesco that there is no need to single the Great Barrier Reef out in this way," Ms Plibersek said during a media briefing.

"The reason that Unesco in the past has singled out a place as at risk is because they wanted to see greater government investment or greater government action and since the change of government, both of those things have happened."

Australia's recently elected Labour government has pledged to spend $800 million in coming years to protect the reef. The parliament in September passed legislation for net zero emissions by 2050.

The independent Great Barrier Reef Foundation said it was already aware of the series of threats identified in the UN report but the recommendation to add the reef to the endangered list was premature.

"The Great Barrier Reef is a wonder, she's got her challenges, but she's definitely not on her last legs in any case," managing director Anna Marsden told Reuters.

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