To date, 2022 has been a pretty tough year for the Great Barrier Reef. There are three significant events to consider that will play an important role in the future of the Reef.

1. La Nina
2. Coral bleaching (read more about coral bleaching here)
3. Reef In danger

Divers holding a sign underwater on the Great Barrier Reef, near bleached coral [photo Greenpeace]

Coral bleaching – The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has just confirmed the Reef has been hit with a sixth mass coral bleaching event on record, with recent aerial surveys showing almost no reefs across a 1,200km stretch escaping the heat. That’s 4 major bleaching events in the past 6 years. The Reef needs 10-15 years to recover from a serious bleaching event.

La Nina – We are in the midst of a La Niña weather pattern, which usually brings cooler temperatures, as well as cloud and rain, and protects the reef from bleaching. But not this year because global warming, fuelled by the burning of fossil fuels, has caught up with us. Now, even a cool year is too hot for the Reef.

The most recent IPCC report makes it very clear, that if we don’t significantly bring down carbon emissions by 2030, we will be seeing annual bleaching events by 2044.

Reef in danger – the UNESCO reactive monitoring team has recently visited the Reef to gauge its health and determine whether it should be listed in danger. Probably an unnecessary trip. The Reef is in danger. No amount of government spin can change that.

But the previous government continued to push back against an in danger listing, as it would have exposed their total lack of effective climate policy.

Given that the greatest threat to the future health of the Reef is climate change, declaring the Reef in danger is the best way to protect it. Climate change requires a collaborative, worldwide effort to combat it. The “in danger” listing will bring the focus of Australia and the world onto the Reef and together we can protect it.

We have only a decade to get our house in order by rapidly transitioning from coal and gas to clean energy like wind and solar in order to bring carbon emissions down. If we truly care about the future of the Great Barrier Reef, we must hold our government accountable and insist that Australia develops an effective climate policy.

The draft decision to list the Great Barrier Reef as “in danger” has caused much shock and consternation, even indignation here in Australia, particularly amongst our politicians.

The Murdoch media was full of words like “blindsided”, “politically influenced” and “Chinese involvement”. 

The subsequent decision by UNESCO in July 2021 to delay the decision until after the next federal election is appalling.  But UNESCO delayed again in June 2022 – after the election.

Millions spent to lobby for the delay and billions spent to continue subsidising fossil fuels that kill millions of people every year.

Is this not a crime against humanity?

The response from Canberra was not surprising. But what was surprising as well as disappointing, was the response from GBRMPA, as noted through the numerous media interviews with the CEO of GBRMPA.