âTragically, the reef has suffered extensive losses in recent years through three severe coral bleaching events, fuelled by global heating,â they wrote. âSafeguarding the reef requires effective global action to reduce carbon emissions. Yet Australia has so far not pulled its weight in this global effort. âWe therefore greatly appreciate Unescoâs draft recommendation for Australia to urgently address the threat of climate change and welcome the draft reportâs recognition that 1.5C [of global heating] is widely recognised as a critical threshold.â The scientists said they acknowledged the Australian and Queensland governments had made efforts to address local threats to the reef, including sediment and nutrient pollution at inshore coral reefs, but Unesco was correct to note âwith the utmost concernâ that water quality targets in the governmentsâ 2050 plan had not been met.