A United Nations body has told Australia to ramp up its climate change targets and get serious about land clearing if it wants to save the Great Barrier Reef.

Australia has been given another reprieve after UNESCO recommended the World Heritage-listed reef be left off the in-danger list for now.

But it’s warned Australia must pursue urgent, sustained action on key reef threats, including climate change.

“The State Party should be urged to set more ambitious emission reduction targets consistent with limiting global temperature to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels,” UNESCO said in a draft decision released early on Tuesday.

“It is clear that the property remains under serious threat, and urgent and sustained action is of utmost priority in order to improve the resilience of the property in a rapidly changing climate.”

The draft decision will inform the World Heritage Committee when it meets in July to formally consider the matter of an in-danger listing.

UNESCO also pointed to ongoing water quality problems, saying land clearing in reef catchments remained a major issue, with tougher laws needed.

“High levels of land clearing are incompatible with the objectives set out to reverse poor water quality.

“Native vegetation clauses under existing laws need strengthening to ensure that all remnant and high value growth areas are protected.”

Australia will have to provide another progress report on its reef management efforts in February next year, and again in February 2026 after which the heritage committee “could consider the inclusion of the property on the list of World Heritage in Danger”.

This post was originally published on Michael West.