UNESCO draft decision on Great Barrier Reef released.

Overnight, UNESCO released a draft decision on the Great Barrier Reef. The draft decision recognises the Australian and Queensland governments’ ongoing efforts to address climate change, water quality, the impacts of fishing and other pressures to protect this World Heritage icon. The draft decision also recommends that impacts, particularly from bleaching from the past summer, are considered further at the 2025 meeting, and that a state of conservation report be prepared by 1 February 2026.

The Reef Authority will continue its world-class management of the Reef and work with our Australian and Queensland government partners, Traditional Owners, industry and the community to address the threats posed by climate change, water quality and illegal fishing to the Reef.

Climate change is the greatest threat to the Great Barrier Reef. Only the strongest and fastest possible actions to decrease global greenhouse gas emissions will reduce the risks and limit the impacts of climate change on the Reef.

For more information on the UNESCO draft decision, click here.

For more information on how the Reef Authority and its partners manage and protect the Great Barrier Reef, click here.