The Australian and Queensland governments delivered an update to UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee on 1 December, reporting on the progress made towards implementing the Reef 2050 Plan to protect and improve the Great Barrier Reef.

Australian Minister for the Environment and Energy Josh Frydenberg said in the first 18 months of the 35-year Plan, 32 of the 151 actions scheduled in the initial five years have been completed and another 103 are underway and on track, while 12 were not yet due and just four were delayed.

While progress is being made, improving water quality remains one of the greatest challenges. More than $1.28 billion in funding from governments, industry and the community has been mapped for the next five years to implement Reef 2050 Plan actions.

News outlets around the world reported the story, including The New York Times, Forbes, The Guardian and US News.