New report to UN world heritage committee criticises Australia’s lack of planning in dealing with effects of climate change

The Great Barrier Reef faces an “elevated and imminent risk” of more widespread coral bleaching this year, the reef authority has warned the Queensland government.

An alert from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority says more of the reef is showing built-up heat stress than this time last year, just before its worst-ever bleaching event killed off a quarter of all coral.

Related: Images of new bleaching on Great Barrier Reef heighten fears of coral death

Related: Rising carbon emissions could kill off vital corals by 2100, study warns

Related: Climate change: 90% of rural Australians say their lives are already affected

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