UNESCO spares Great Barrier Reef from 'in danger' status

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Sydney: Australia's Great Barrier Reef was spared from being added to UNESCO's World Heritage ‘in danger’ list after the World Heritage Committee, sitting in Paris, advised against the classification in its most recent draft decision. The move prevents the reef from being added to the list of sites under significant threat, while also praising Australia's conservation efforts.

The committee praised success stories in improving water quality, lowering land-based pollution, enhancing fisheries management, and expanding reef protection measures. However, it expressed ‘utmost concern’ over the reef's deterioration, citing successive major coral bleaching episodes in 2024 and 2025 caused by marine heatwaves linked to climate change. Scientists worry that recurrent bleaching has diminished coral cover and compromised the reef's ability to recover from future disturbances.

UNESCO has encouraged Australia to continue boosting conservation efforts and address the effects of climate change, which it regards as the most serious long-term threat to the reef. Australia has been required to provide a progress report on water quality and reef preservation measures by December 2028, followed by a complete state-of-conservation report in 2029. The committee is anticipated to formally endorse the resolution during its current meeting.