UNESCO keeps Great Barrier Reef off endangered World Heritage list, Australia welcomes decision

According to Lianhe Zaobao, UNESCO decided to maintain the Great Barrier Reef’s World Heritage status and not list it as endangered for now, a move Australia’s government welcomed on July 4. UNESCO said on July 3 that Australia has continued efforts to address climate change, improve water quality, promote sustainable fisheries management and control land clearing, but noted hard coral cover shrank sharply in 2024-2025 as sea temperatures stayed above average, triggering the sixth mass coral bleaching event since 2016. UNESCO also cited ongoing pressure from extreme weather, land runoff, coastal development and outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish, warning the reef’s ability to withstand and recover from such events is weakening. Australia’s assistant tourism minister, Green, said the decision recognized Australia’s work managing these risks but acknowledged climate change will continue to threaten the reef, while Australian Marine Conservation Society campaign manager Shindler said Australia remains seriously inadequate in addressing key threats and noted the reef contributes about AUD 9 billion a year to the economy and supports 77,000 jobs.