Great Barrier Reef “in danger”?
Posted on: Tue 6 Jul 2021
UNESCO has recommended that the Great Barrier Reef should be placed on a list of world heritage sites that are “in danger”. The recommendation from UN officials urges Australia to take accelerated action on climate change at all possible levels.
UNESCO says the reef should be placed on the “in danger” list at the world heritage committee meeting next month.
Federal Environment minister Sussan Ley said the government would “strongly oppose” the recommendation, claiming Australian officials had been “stunned” by what she described as a “backflip on previous assurances” given by UN officials, that the step would not be taken.
To examine the history and recent developments behind the reef’s world heritage status, Barometer’s Des Lawrence spoke to Associate Professor Sarah Hamylton from the School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences at the University of Wollongong.
Produced by Des Lawrence
