Maintaining a healthy and resilient Great Barrier Reef The Commonwealth and Queensland Governments’ Interim Response to the Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2009 | 2 INTRODUCTION The Commonwealth and Queensland fishing, generates around $150 million governments are committed to ensuring each year, with more than 14 million visits the long term protection of the Great occurring in 2007. Barrier Reef (the Reef). The Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2009 The Reef is undisputedly one of the world’s is an important stocktake on the state of most important natural assets. It is the the Reef and its outlook, based on the best largest coral reef ecosystem in the world, available information. It is an opportunity to home to thousands of species including ensure our efforts to protect the Reef are on 1,500 of the world’s marine fish species, the right track. over a third of its soft coral species and The Outlook Report tells us that the Reef six of its seven species of marine turtle. continues to be one of the world’s healthiest Its unparalleled biological diversity is coral reef ecosystems. But it is also clear internationally recognised as being of that there are significant challenges that outstanding universal value through its need to be met. inscription on the World Heritage List. The Commonwealth and Queensland The significant environmental values of the governments are committed to meeting Reef also provide the basis for substantial these challenges. This response to the economic activity. Tourism is a significant Outlook Report by the governments contributor. Around two million tourists visit identifies and accelerates key actions the Reef each year, supporting an industry that ensure the Reef stays one of the generating approximately $5 billion annually best protected in the world. The Outlook and 50,000 jobs. Ten major commercial Report will inform policy and management fisheries operate in the Reef, contributing decisions into the future, and provide the around $140 million to the economy each baseline against which our collective efforts year. Recreational use of the Reef, including will be measured. The Hon Peter Garrett AM MP The Hon Kate Jones MP Australian Government Minister Queensland Government for the Environment, Heritage Minister for Climate Change and the Arts and Sustainability | 1 THE GREAT BARRIER REEF OUTLOOK REPORT The Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report The Report identifies that overall the Reef 2009 (the Outlook Report) provides a is currently in good condition. While not comprehensive assessment of the state as healthy as its state prior to European of the Reef and its long term outlook, influence, habitats and populations of almost based on the best available information. all species are generally intact. Nevertheless, a number of important areas of concern The Report is the first of its kind. It is a new are identified, and pressures on the Reef legislative requirement established by recent now and into the future, if not appropriately amendments to the Great Barrier Reef addressed, may see the health and resilience Marine Park Act 1975. Under that Act, reports of the Reef decline significantly over the next must be prepared by the Great Barrier Reef 50 years and beyond. Marine Park Authority every five years, independently peer reviewed, and tabled in The overwhelming factor driving this outlook both Houses of the Australian Parliament. is climate change. Coral reef ecosystems are among the most vulnerable to the The requirement for a five-yearly Outlook impacts of climate change. While the Reef Report ensures that governments and the is no exception, the Outlook Report tells us public periodically have a comprehensive that it is better positioned than other coral and scientifically robust assessment of reef ecosystems, a testament to its strong how effectively the Reef is being protected. management. Nevertheless, effective global Importantly, Outlook Reports consider action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions both the current state of the Reef, and its will be critical to the Reef’s future. So too will predicted future condition, ensuring that be continued strong management of the Reef longer term considerations are central to to build and maintain its capacity to withstand today’s decision making. and adapt to the impacts of climate change. The 2009 Outlook Report provides key The Outlook Report identifies key priorities evidence and information on which to take for management, including improving stock of current actions and ensure we are the quality of water flowing into the Reef on the right track. It will underpin policy and from adjacent catchments, protecting key management decisions now and into the coastal habitats, and managing the broader future and provide a benchmark against ecosystem impacts of extractive activities which we can measure progress. such as fishing. The effectiveness of action to address these key pressures will be Key findings of the critical in rectifying current areas of concern Outlook Report and meeting future challenges presented by climate change. The 2009 Outlook Report identifies that the Reef continues to be one of the world’s The Outlook Report also identifies key gaps healthiest coral reef ecosystems, but that in our understanding of the Reef. Addressing significant challenges must be met to ensure these gaps will help us to better understand this remains the case into the future. drivers of its long term future and put in place appropriate responses. 2 | Maintaining a healthy and resilient Great Barrier Reef RESPONDING TO THE OUTLOOK REPORT The challenges facing the Reef now support management and protection. The and into the future require a new Outlook Report will also inform policy and cooperative and re-energised approach management decisions into the future. by the Commonwealth and Queensland governments. Pressures such as Responding to Climate Change climate change, catchment water quality and coastal development were not Climate change is the single most contemplated when formal protection of the significant threat to the Reef. Increasing sea Reef was first established in 1975 through water temperature, sea level rise, ocean enactment of the Great Barrier Reef acidification and other effects of climate Marine Park Act 1975. change are already impacting on the Reef. Impacts will worsen should greenhouse Recognising this, the Prime Minister and gas levels continue to rise, ultimately with Premier of Queensland signed a new Great potentially catastrophic consequences for Barrier Reef Intergovernmental Agreement the Reef. in June 2009. The agreement replaces the 1979 ‘Emerald Agreement’, providing Climate change is a global issue requiring a a modern framework for the governments global solution. Australia is closely engaged to work together to address both local in international negotiations to secure an and external pressures on the Reef. effective and fair global approach and is Implementation of the agreement will be committed to playing its part. driven by the Great Barrier Reef Ministerial • The Commonwealth Government will Council. The Council met for the first commit to reducing emissions by time under the new agreement on 3 July 25 per cent below 2000 levels by 2020 2009. It was briefed on the findings of the as its contribution to a global outcome Outlook Report and set in motion action on that leads to stabilisation of greenhouse a number of key issues, including climate gases in the atmosphere at 450 parts change and catchment water quality. per million or lower. This document responds to the findings • The Commonwealth Government will of the Outlook Report, identifying key deliver its share of global emissions actions that the governments are taking reductions through measures including to ensure the Reef remains one of the the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme world’s most significant natural assets. It (CPRS), the expanded Mandatory is not an exhaustive list of actions, nor is Renewable Energy Target, and substantial it the extent of government consideration investment in renewable energy, energy of the Outlook Report. The response efficiency and carbon capture and storage. addresses the key pressures of climate change, catchment water quality, coastal • ClimateQ: toward a greener Queensland, development and impacts of fishing, as well released in 2009, sets out the next steps as action to ensure effective management in Queensland’s transition to a low carbon of the Reef and deliver research to future. The Queensland Government has | 3 committed to playing its part in meeting a • The governments will support ongoing national target of 60 per cent below 2000 research to generate the information emissions levels by 2050, and supports needed to respond and adapt to climate the CPRS as the central policy mechanism change risks and build resilience. This for reducing Australia’s emissions. It has will build on an existing assessment of released a suite of emission reduction the vulnerability of the Reef to climate measures to complement the CPRS, change, Climate Change and the Great including the Queensland Renewable Barrier Reef: A Vulnerability Assessment. Energy Plan and significant investments Research will be delivered through a range in carbon capture and storage, renewable of sources, many of which are identified in energy and energy efficiency. the final section of this document. Even under the most optimistic scenarios for global reductions in greenhouse gas Addressing Catchment emissions, climate change will place Water Quality substantial pressure on the Reef. What this The poor quality of water running into the means for the future health of the Reef will Reef from adjacent catchments is a major depend on its capacity to withstand and threat to the ecosystem. Significant amounts adapt to the impacts of climate change – of nutrients, sediments and pesticides are referred to as its ‘resilience’. entering the Reef, primarily from broadscale • Building and maintaining ‘resilience’ is agricultural land use. This is affecting the central to efforts by the governments to health of the Reef, particularly inshore coral protect the Reef.