We know how to save the Reef and tourism industry

It’s time to seize the opportunity. Never has there been more of a mood here in Australia to protect our Great Barrier Reef. And with the Queensland Parliament meeting in Cairns this week, there has never been a better opportunity for the government to focus on the state’s greatest drawcard, the World Heritage-listed Reef.

I have been running Blue Dive Port Douglas for more than 15 years and I have seen thousands of visitors from every corner of the globe visit every year – and I see them leave as enthusiastic advocates of this stunning natural wonder of the world. What a tragedy it would be if this did not continue.

Late last year the World Heritage Committee’s scientific advisers, UNESCO and the IUCN, released a report on its Reactive Monitoring Mission that made 22 recommendations that the Australian and Queensland governments need to take to prevent any further harm to the Reef and damage to our industry.

The report, and countless amounts of research behind it, shows the Reef is in trouble and spells out the basic steps needed to protect it. We have an opportunity to focus on meaningful climate action and I urge the Queensland government to follow the clear road map outlined in the report.

Here in North Queensland we have reached a tipping point. I see first hand the impact that marine heatwaves, caused by global warming, has had on the Reef. It is still superb to visit but we need urgent climate action from the government at every level. We want future generations to enjoy the reef!

As custodians of the Reef, we should be leading the way to preserve one of the world’s greatest treasures. Economically it makes sense to prioritise the protection of the 64,000 reef tourism jobs and the $6bn in revenue that reef tourism brings in.

Recently, the Queensland government has taken some small positive steps for a sustainable future by committing to renewable energy and phasing out coal-fired power stations by 2035. However, Queensland still has one of the lowest emission reductions targets in the country and the targets fall short of the requirement to keep warming below 1.5.

The Great Barrier Reef is incredibly diverse and remains to be a special place to visit for millions of people every year. As Queenslanders, we have a responsibility to maintain its many values for future generations. Whether it is put on the “In Danger” list or not doesn’t change the facts: Climate change has the potential to irreversibly alter the Reef as we know it.

The Queensland government has the ability to take action now by addressing local threats to the Reef, including protecting threatened species from being caught in commercial gillnets. It can improve water quality by limiting pollution from farmlands washing into the Reef’s waters and stopping tree clearing in Reef catchments.

The World Heritage Committee meets in September to consider the Reef’s conservation status. The time to act is now.