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Australia blasts UNESCO endangered listing for Great Barrier Reef
Australia has slammed a report by the UN World Heritage Committee which proposes putting the Great Barrier Reef on an ‘in danger’ watch list.
The Committee’s draft report said there was ‘no possible doubt; that the barrier reef is ‘facing ascertained danger’ due to climate change.
It said it should be added to UNESCO’s List of World Heritage in Danger.
That means it would be monitored by UNESCO which could put in place ‘corrective measures.’
Any downgrade of its World Heritage status would likely impact tourism revenue that it generates and it has got local tourism businesses worried.
Environment Minister Sussan Ley said Australia will fight any downgrading attempt.
"This is a complete subversion of normal process. The reef is an icon internationally and we are here to fight for the reef and we are here to challenge the decision," Ley said, blaming it on a ‘political’ decision.
That has inevitably led Australian media to accuse the China-chaired UN body of playing politics.
In contrast environmental groups have applauded the UN.
"The recommendation from UNESCO is clear and unequivocal that the Australian government is not doing enough to protect our greatest natural asset," said Richard Leck, head of oceans for the World Wide Fund for Nature-Australia.
UNESCO also proposed to put other sites on the endangered list including Venice and Liverpool’s waterfront.
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