The Great Barrier Reef is recognised in Australia, and around the world, for its outstanding cultural and natural value. However, climate change is directly threatening the Reef. At its most dramatic, climate change on the Reef manifests as coral bleaching. See What is coral bleaching? for a further description.
The Great Barrier Reef Foundation commissioned Oxford Economics to undertake a study of the costs of a total and permanent bleaching on the Reef to the Cairns region and, as part of that study, to reassess the value of the Reef. Cairns has long been Australia's most important gateway to Great Barrier Reef tourism and is therefore the focus of this report to bring the true economic cost of climate change into relief. This study rightly recognises the value which Australians and people all over the world place on the Reef, and having it preserved for future generations to enjoy.
The findings in this Report are, of necessity, conservative due to the lack of detailed and consistent data especially in the areas of non-use values and visitation behavious. It is very likely that as we learn more about topics like these, values will increase.
The Foundation and Oxford Economics are indebted to the academics and institutions who contributed to the report with first hand experience of the area, detailed knowledge of related studies and important data.
The Great Barrier Reef is our single greatest national indicator of how our climate is changing. We owe it to Cairns, to all Australians, and indeed the global community, to do all we can to secure its future.
Summary of Report outcomes
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Executive Summary (525KB)
Full Report (3.4MB)
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