The report said climate change was escalating and was the most significant threat to the Great Barrier Reef's long-term survival.
"The current rate of global warming will not allow the maintenance of a healthy reef for future generations," the report said.
Experts said strong mitigation actions "within the next decade" would be necessary to achieve the best possible outlook for the reef and future generations.
"Specifically, early and effective global and national action on climate change, coupled with local actions to ... facilitate recovery, are imperative over the next 10 years if the region is to have a positive long-term outlook.
"The scientific evidence is clear: initiatives that will halt and reverse the effects of climate change at a global level and effectively improve water quality at a regional scale are the most urgent," the report said.
According to the report, "without additional local, national and global action on the greatest threats, the overall outlook for the Great Barrier Reef's ecosystem will remain very poor, with continuing consequences for its heritage values also".
"The challenge is big, but not insurmountable - actions taken now will matter."
The downgraded outlook status comes after back-to-back coral bleaching events, cyclones and record-breaking warm water - particularly affecting the northern part of the reef, which had previously been considered to be pristine.
"Even with the recent management initiatives to reduce threats and improve resilience, the overall outlook for the Great Barrier Reef is very poor," said Mr Poiner.
The reef is expected to continue to deteriorate, which experts say will only change if there is an urgent and coordinated action to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
The findings come on the same day the Federal Government released its quarterly emissions data for the first three months of 2019. It showed that pollution for the year to March rose by 0.6 percent.
Australian emissions have risen for five years in a row.
The report found there was a "multi-tiered governance and management regime" to protect the reef's biodiversity, ecosystem and heritage values, "however this regime is not designed to directly address the effects of a changing climate".
"Climate change remains the greatest risk to the outstanding universal value of the World Heritage Area and its integrity."
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority chief scientist Dr David Wachenfeld said everything possible should be done to create recovery windows.
"Gradual sea temperature increase and extremes, such as marine heat waves, are the most immediate threats to the reef," he said.
"Global action on climate change is critical."
The report said the window of opportunity to improve the Great Barrier Reef's long-term future was now, and strong and effective management was needed.
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