Great Barrier Reef timeline: decades of damage and Australia’s fight to stop ‘in danger’ listing

How a series of mass coral bleaching events linked to rising sea temperatures prompted calls for action ahead of world heritage committee meeting

• Great Barrier Reef should be listed as in danger', Unesco recommends
• Comment: The Australian government wants to avoid the Great Barrier Reef being listed as in danger' at all costs

The Great Barrier Reef has been under pressure for decades due to rising greenhouse gas emissions and other human activity, notably agriculture along the Queensland coast.

There were mass coral bleaching events linked to rising sea temperatures in 1998 and 2002.