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| Great Barrier Reef shouldn't be on 'in danger' list for now, says Unesco | Great Barrier Reef shouldn't be on 'in danger' list for now, says Unesco |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| A draft UN ruling has recommended against listing the Great Barrier Reef as “in danger” but indicated the natural icon remains on its watchlist. | A draft UN ruling has recommended against listing the Great Barrier Reef as “in danger” but indicated the natural icon remains on its watchlist. |
| Environmental groups have warned Australian governments that a draft decision by UNESCO not to place the Great Barrier Reef on the World Heritage “in danger” list shouldn’t be seen as a reprieve. | |
| The preliminary decision by Unesco’s world heritage committee, which will inform a final ruling in Germany next month, welcomed Australia’s moves to tackle water pollution, limit new port development and ban the dumping of dredge spoil from those ports in reef waters. | The preliminary decision by Unesco’s world heritage committee, which will inform a final ruling in Germany next month, welcomed Australia’s moves to tackle water pollution, limit new port development and ban the dumping of dredge spoil from those ports in reef waters. |
| But Unesco has asked Australia to submit a progress report on its conservation plan by December next year, with any sign of benchmarks not being met triggering a further referral to the world heritage committee. | But Unesco has asked Australia to submit a progress report on its conservation plan by December next year, with any sign of benchmarks not being met triggering a further referral to the world heritage committee. |
| An “in danger” listing for the world’s largest coral reef would have triggered a new era of international scrutiny and been a major embarrassment for the Australian government. While Australia will likely celebrate the ruling as an endorsement of its conservation efforts, Unesco’s requirement that it reports back next year is not the clean bill of health it was seeking. | An “in danger” listing for the world’s largest coral reef would have triggered a new era of international scrutiny and been a major embarrassment for the Australian government. While Australia will likely celebrate the ruling as an endorsement of its conservation efforts, Unesco’s requirement that it reports back next year is not the clean bill of health it was seeking. |
| The committee noted “with concern” the ongoing decline in the health of the reef shown in the last comprehensive scientific survey of the reef in 2014, due to climate change, water pollution and coastal development. | The committee noted “with concern” the ongoing decline in the health of the reef shown in the last comprehensive scientific survey of the reef in 2014, due to climate change, water pollution and coastal development. |
| But it welcomed Australia’s 2050 long-term sustainability plan for the reef, which includes an 80% cut in water pollution by 2025 and an extra $200m (AUD) to accelerate that progress in the next five years. | But it welcomed Australia’s 2050 long-term sustainability plan for the reef, which includes an 80% cut in water pollution by 2025 and an extra $200m (AUD) to accelerate that progress in the next five years. |
| Related: Tony Abbott unveils plan to save Great Barrier Reef | Related: Tony Abbott unveils plan to save Great Barrier Reef |
| The committee called on Australia to “rigorously implement all of its commitments” in the plan, including through legislation, and to halt the evident deterioration in the reef, which has lost more than half of its coral cover in the last 30 years. | The committee called on Australia to “rigorously implement all of its commitments” in the plan, including through legislation, and to halt the evident deterioration in the reef, which has lost more than half of its coral cover in the last 30 years. |
| It also called on Australia to act on its promise to set up a long term “investment framework” for its plan this year as “a matter of priority”. | It also called on Australia to act on its promise to set up a long term “investment framework” for its plan this year as “a matter of priority”. |
| Australia’s 2050 plan committed to five yearly evaluations of its plan and progress towards reversing the reef’s decline through outlook reports generated by its own scientific agencies. | Australia’s 2050 plan committed to five yearly evaluations of its plan and progress towards reversing the reef’s decline through outlook reports generated by its own scientific agencies. |
| A joint statement by the federal environment minister, Greg Hunt, his Queensland counterpart, Steven Miles, and Queensland’s deputy premier, Jackie Trad, noted that in the draft decision “all references to ‘in danger’ have been dropped and Australia and Queensland’s efforts have been praised”. | |
| “We have listened intently and responded directly to the concerns from the Australian community, the World Heritage Committee and their technical advisers,” they said. | |
| Environmental groups consider the reef – regardless of the Unesco ruling – technically in danger, particularly in the face of state and federal government support of proposals to develop massive coal mines in Galilee basin in central Queensland. | Environmental groups consider the reef – regardless of the Unesco ruling – technically in danger, particularly in the face of state and federal government support of proposals to develop massive coal mines in Galilee basin in central Queensland. |
| Related: Australia: The new coal frontier | |
| Those mines would increase shipping traffic through reef waters, lead to more maintenance dredging for coal ports, and create the estimated equivalent of more than 6% of Australia’s annual carbon emissions through the coal burned. | Those mines would increase shipping traffic through reef waters, lead to more maintenance dredging for coal ports, and create the estimated equivalent of more than 6% of Australia’s annual carbon emissions through the coal burned. |
| Leading coral reef researcher Terry Hughes, of James Cook University, has warned that development of the Galilee basin – which would feed coal through Abbot Point – is incompatible with protecting the reef. | |
| The risks to the reef from climate change are manifold, with higher sea temperatures leading to increased coral bleaching and spawning of crown of thorns starfish predators, as well as more frequent and severe cyclones. | |
| The reef has suffered damage from six category five cyclones in the last decade, compared to none in the previous 35 years. | |
| Australian marine conservation society campaigner Felicity Wishart said the draft ruling had “affirmed that the science is very clear, that the reef is deteriorating and have asked for the Australian government to report back in 2016 and again in 2019”. | |
| “So they’ve essentially said they’ve very concerned and keeping Australia on a watchlist for the next five years,” she said. | |
| “I don’t think you can interpret that in any way other than a lot more needs to be done and Australia needs to lift their game and get serious about protecting the reef so we don’t have a listing either in 2017 or 2019.” | |
| Greenpeace Australia reef campaigner Shani Tager said: “The Australian government can’t talk about protecting the reef while aggressively supporting the licensing of mega-mine and expansion of coal ports along the Great Barrier Reef coast,” she said. | Greenpeace Australia reef campaigner Shani Tager said: “The Australian government can’t talk about protecting the reef while aggressively supporting the licensing of mega-mine and expansion of coal ports along the Great Barrier Reef coast,” she said. |
| Tager said while the Australian government had “relentlessly lobbied” Unesco, eminent scientists had warned of the threat of coal mines, ports and climate change. | Tager said while the Australian government had “relentlessly lobbied” Unesco, eminent scientists had warned of the threat of coal mines, ports and climate change. |
| “This decision has been described by some as a reprieve for the reef. It is not a reprieve – it is a big, red flag from Unesco,” she said. | “This decision has been described by some as a reprieve for the reef. It is not a reprieve – it is a big, red flag from Unesco,” she said. |
| World Wildlife Fund spokesman Rick Leck said the draft ruling had put Australian governments “on probation”. | World Wildlife Fund spokesman Rick Leck said the draft ruling had put Australian governments “on probation”. |
| “We’re not out of treacherous waters yet,” he said. Leck said water quality commitments by both levels of government fell $500m(AUD) short of what was required over the next five years alone. | “We’re not out of treacherous waters yet,” he said. Leck said water quality commitments by both levels of government fell $500m(AUD) short of what was required over the next five years alone. |
| The chief of the Queensland tourism industry council, Daniel Gschwind, said an “in danger” listing would have been “catastrophic” for the industry, with the reef contributing $6bn a year to the economy. | The chief of the Queensland tourism industry council, Daniel Gschwind, said an “in danger” listing would have been “catastrophic” for the industry, with the reef contributing $6bn a year to the economy. |
| Gschwind said the decision to spare a listing this time around was “the right move” but Australia had to “do more” to safeguard the “jewel in Australia’s tourism crown”. | Gschwind said the decision to spare a listing this time around was “the right move” but Australia had to “do more” to safeguard the “jewel in Australia’s tourism crown”. |
| “If the Unesco draft decision is accepted it will give us a chance to demonstrate our long-term commitment to address the significant issues that affect the future of the reef,” he said. | “If the Unesco draft decision is accepted it will give us a chance to demonstrate our long-term commitment to address the significant issues that affect the future of the reef,” he said. |
| “It’s clear that the world is watching how we manage the Great Barrier Reef and this should inspire our efforts to ensure it remains a natural wonder that will inspire and delight generations well into the future.” | “It’s clear that the world is watching how we manage the Great Barrier Reef and this should inspire our efforts to ensure it remains a natural wonder that will inspire and delight generations well into the future.” |