Scientific Consensus Statement 2022 for the Great Barrier Reef
Policymakers use the 2022 Scientific Consensus Statement as a key evidence-based document for decisions about managing Great Barrier Reef water quality. The statement is one of several projects that provide supporting information for the design, delivery and implementation of the Australian and Queensland Governments’ Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan.
The Scientific Consensus Statement:
- summarises the evidence for management that supports improving Great Barrier Reef water quality, typically from 1990 to the end of 2022
- identifies points of consensus among scientific experts on these issues.
The scientific consensus among experts in multiple research fields and disciplines was identified as a high priority for building confidence in the 2022 Scientific Consensus Statement for the community of policymakers, managers, delivery partners, stakeholders and a broader audience that all hold an interest in water quality outcomes for the Great Barrier Reef.
The 2022 Scientific Consensus Statement has been developed over two years (2022–2024). It is the most comprehensive review of land-based impacts on the Great Barrier Reef’s water quality and ecosystem health. It includes several changes in the process compared to previous iterations, including:
- demonstrated independence from decision-makers
- increased transparency and rigour in the approach to synthesise the evidence base
- assessment of the level of confidence in the findings
- greater engagement with end users throughout the process
- being underpinned by a set of guiding principles.
The Australian and Queensland Governments engaged C2O Consulting to independently lead the delivery of the 2022 Scientific Consensus Statement. Its development has involved over 200 experts, including 147 authors and reviewers from Australia and overseas.
