Avoiding placement of reef on in-danger list sends misleading message
The Great Barrier Reef has managed to avoid being listed as an endangered site globally, but an expert warns that this decision does not accurately reflect the dire state of the reef.
The World Heritage Committee, on July 25, accepted draft recommendations to keep the reef off the in-danger list for the third consecutive year. Despite this decision, Australia has been experiencing significant climate change events, including the reef’s fifth bleaching episode in eight years during the 2023-24 summer.
Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg from the University of Queensland criticized this as a political move to relieve government pressure. He expressed, “The reef is in dire straits. I am appalled by today’s decision, which has sent the false message that the Great Barrier Reef is somehow not ‘in danger.’ This is clearly a case of political convenience trumping science.”
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The committee has called for additional action from the government and emphasized that the reef is still at serious risk. It stated, “Urgent and sustained action is of utmost priority in order to improve the resilience of the property in a rapidly changing climate.”
Efforts to reduce sediment and dissolved inorganic nitrogen are crucial for enhancing water quality. Additionally, native vegetation clearing in reef catchment areas poses a significant threat.
While the federal government has set targets to cut carbon emissions by 43% below 2005 levels by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050, experts suggest that more ambitious goals are necessary to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. The committee acknowledged progress in restoring gullies and phasing out destructive fishing practices.
The government’s initiatives will have some positive impact, but Prof Hoegh-Guldberg stressed that a comprehensive approach is needed. He emphasized, “We must be doing all we can do to bring down emissions of greenhouse gases and create the circumstances for the reef to recover.”
Australia must report back on its progress to the World Heritage Committee by 2025.
