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.
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This undated handout photo from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University, shows coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef. AFP -
Fish swim along the edges of a coral reef off Great Keppel Island in Australia. The government agency that manages Australia's Great Barrier Reef on Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, downgraded its outlook for the corals' condition from "poor" to "very poor" due to warming oceans. AP -
This undated handout photo from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University, shows coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef. AFP -
This undated handout photo from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University, shows an aerial survey of coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef. AFP -
This undated handout photo from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University, shows an aerial survey of coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef. AFP -
This undated handout photo from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University, shows an aerial survey of coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef. AFP -
This undated handout photo from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University, shows coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef. AFP -
Aerial of a portion of the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Cairns, Queensland, Australia. Getty Images -
This undated handout photo from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University, shows professor Terry Hughes conducting an aerial survey of coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef. AFP
"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.
The top 10 Unesco World Heritage sites - in pictures
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1. India's Taj Mahal is the world's most searched for Unesco World Heritage site, according to Zitango Travel, travel agents and destination specialists. -
2. Peru's ancient Inca capital Machu Picchu is the world's second most searched for Unesco Heritage site. Photo: Pedro Szekely / flickr -
3. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which was added to the Unesco list in 2017. AFP -
4. Yellowstone National Park in western US is the fourth most searched for Unesco heritage site. AP Photo -
5. The stone circle at Stonehenge, Wiltshire, in the UK. PA -
6. The Statue of Liberty in New York. AFP -
7. Petra archeological site is one of Jordan's most famous landmarks. EPA -
8. Italy's Cinque Terre is ranked eighth globally but first in Europe in the most popular Unesco-listed World Heritage sites. Unsplash / Mark Pecar -
9. France's Palace of Versailles. Unsplash / Matthias Redding -
10. Mexico's Chichen Itza Mayan ruins. Unsplash / Mario La Pergola
