Australia's Great Barrier Reef has successfully avoided an 'in danger' classification in the latest UNESCO vote.

This week, a showdown occurred between the Australian government and a United Nations panel over the Great Barrier Reef's status, as they debated whether it’s at risk of losing its 'outstanding universal value' and its spot on the World Heritage List.

The World Heritage Committee decided on Friday not to categorize the reef as 'in danger.' Instead, they requested a detailed report on ongoing conservation efforts to safeguard the reef’s future.

Being designated as 'in danger' means a site is under significant threat, and without timely action, it risks losing its World Heritage status.

The 21-nation committee, convened by UNESCO, instructed Australia on Friday to submit a conservation update on the reef by February 2022. The report must also outline the strategies implemented to maintain the reef's 'outstanding universal value.'

In a last-ditch effort to preserve its status, Australia engaged in intense lobbying, even taking ambassadors on a snorkeling excursion to the Great Barrier Reef.

The push to impose the 'in danger' rating came from both scientists and celebrities, with a letter released this week that was signed by 13 public figures, including actors, ex-politicians, and journalists, urging the committee to back UNESCO's recommendation.

The letter, signed by stars like 'Aquaman' actor Jason Momoa and oceanographer Philippe Cousteau, declares: 'There’s still time to save the Great Barrier Reef, but immediate action is needed from Australia and the global community.'

The struggle to protect the reef

A series of natural disasters and the escalating effects of climate change have taken a heavy toll on the reef, resulting in widespread coral bleaching. A 2019 Australian government survey revealed that the reef's condition had worsened from 'poor' to 'very poor.'

In a report released on June 21, a UNESCO monitoring mission stated that despite efforts by the Australian government to improve the reef’s health, it remains undeniable that the reef is facing clear and present danger.

The Australian government has strongly rejected UNESCO’s findings. In a last-ditch attempt to sway the World Heritage Committee’s 20 members, Environment Minister Sussan Ley traveled to Europe in July to advocate against the proposed measure. Australia is currently part of the 21-nation rotating committee.

Just last week, Australia’s reef ambassador, Warren Entsch, took several ambassadors—including some from countries voting on the World Heritage Committee—to the Great Barrier Reef for a snorkeling excursion.

On Tuesday, an amendment was proposed in which 12 countries on the committee, including Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Spain, seemed to support the idea of avoiding an 'in danger' rating for the Great Barrier Reef. However, no final decision has been reached yet.

A spokesperson for Environment Minister Sussan Ley confirmed that while in France, she held meetings with representatives from several nations.

Dr. Fanny Douvere, the head of the World Heritage Center's Marine Programme, stood by the 'in danger' designation, calling it 'impartial' and based on scientific evidence.

Dr. Douvere emphasized that regardless of how the World Heritage Committee votes, UNESCO’s preliminary stance that the reef is 'in danger' would still reflect their well-founded opinion.

'The evidence is not something we are still researching—it is clear and well-documented,' she asserted.

'Not to notify the global community about the situation would have been completely unthinkable.'

A call to global attention

UNESCO's World Heritage List includes hundreds of sites recognized for their immense value to future generations, ranging from natural treasures like Yellowstone National Park in the US to cultural landmarks like the Great Wall of China.

Each year, the World Heritage Committee convenes to consider new additions to the list and assess whether any existing sites are in danger of losing their status.

During this month's meeting, the committee will also decide if Venice should be placed on the 'in danger' list due to various threats to the iconic city, including the impact of large cruise ships.

According to UNESCO's official website, out of the 1,121 sites on the World Heritage List, only 53 are currently marked as 'in danger.' These include Florida's Everglades National Park, also grappling with climate change challenges, and the ancient site of Palmyra in Syria.

Dr. Douvere from the Marine Programme explained that an 'in danger' designation signals to the international community that the country responsible for the site is struggling to protect it and may require help. UNESCO will then collaborate with the nation to determine necessary actions to preserve the site.

'It’s a serious step; we don’t make this decision lightly… It serves as an urgent warning to the world that a place on the World Heritage List, which we aim to safeguard for future generations, is losing its exceptional universal value,' she stated.

This isn't the first time the Great Barrier Reef has been on the verge of being listed as 'in danger,' but the Australian government expressed surprise at its inclusion in UNESCO’s June report.

'This draft recommendation was made without a direct inspection of the reef and without the most current data,' said Environment Minister Sussan Ley in a statement at the time.

For now, the Great Barrier Reef has avoided being classified as 'in danger.'

In the past, 'in danger' classifications have been removed once authorities took action to address the concerns raised by UNESCO.

For instance, the Belize Barrier Reef, the world’s second-largest coral reef, was no longer deemed 'in danger' after the government banned oil exploration in the area and implemented stronger forestry laws to protect mangroves.

Scientific experts support the 'in danger' designation for sites at risk.

The Australian government has reinforced its position that the reef is not in immediate danger, citing a new report from the Australian Institute of Marine Science, published on Monday, which shows an increase in hard coral across three regions of the Great Barrier Reef over the past year.

'The past few years have shown that recovery is taking place across much of the Great Barrier Reef, a hopeful sign that demonstrates the reef still has the ability and ecological functions necessary to bounce back from disturbances,' the report stated.

However, leading Australian scientists warned that the new coral growth is fragile and supported UNESCO's decision to consider placing the Great Barrier Reef on the 'in danger' list.

Scott Heron, an associate professor of physics at James Cook University in Queensland, expressed that it was 'abundantly clear' to him that the reef is in serious jeopardy.

'The threats facing the Great Barrier Reef are severe, have persisted for some time, and the goals set to address them have not been met,' Heron explained. He noted that although some coral has regrown following recent bleaching events, much of the new growth is from fast-growing species that are highly vulnerable to heat stress and death.

'The data from just one year is too limited and may obscure the longer-term decline trend,' he added.

In a statement to Dinogo, a spokesperson for Minister Ley said that the Australian government opposed the 'in danger' designation, 'not only due to our concerns about the Reef, but because we believe the process threatens the integrity of the World Heritage System.'

However, Lesley Hughes, a spokeswoman for the Climate Council and a distinguished professor of Biology at Macquarie University, suggested the Australian government was also worried about its reputation due to its poor record on climate change.

A UN report released in July, which assessed progress toward the global sustainable development goals, ranked Australia last for climate action.

'While the government points to the funds spent on local adaptation for the Barrier Reef, they have never been truly committed to tackling climate change,' said Hughes.

'An 'in danger' listing for the reef will only amplify the global scrutiny of the government's failure in this area,' she added.