The Summary provides readers with a mid-level overview of the findings of the 2022 Scientific Consensus Statement. It was agreed by 35 experts involved in the 2022 Scientific Consensus Statement consensus process, endorsed by the Reef Water Quality Independent Science Panel (ISP), and reviewed by three independent eminent experts.
The Summary introduces the 2022 Scientific Consensus Statement and its main components, highlighting some of the differences between this and previous iterations (for more details visit the Process section of the website), and reiterates the Overarching Conclusions from the Conclusions document. It describes the key findings for each Theme, including a Summary Statement, provides an explanation of the confidence in the evidence, uncertainties, recent findings and knowledge gaps, and presents a summary of the evidence appraisal and supporting Evidence Statement for each synthesis.
The Summary Statements were developed through a formal convergence process using a Single-Draft Text Procedure method. This involved the Scientific Consensus Statement’s Coordination Team producing an initial draft based on the evidence contained in the individual syntheses for the Theme(s). The draft was circulated to Theme expert groups (all Lead Authors and several contributors with specific expertise) and reviewed through three rounds of independent feedback until agreement was reached on the final Summary Statement for the Theme(s).
Readers wanting more detail about specific topics or questions are encouraged to explore the Evidence section of the 2022 Scientific Consensus Statement. It is critical that any policy or management decisions are based on consideration of the full synthesis of evidence.
