National Environmental Groups Down Under Urge UNESCO To Proclaim Endangered Status For GBR
Australia’s major environment groups have written to the UN’s world heritage committee, urging it to put the Great Barrier Reef on its “in danger” list as the Morrison government ramps up its lobbying against the change. The environment minister, Sussan Ley, was due to land in Europe on Monday evening for a week-long campaign against the in-danger recommendation for the ocean jewel.
In Australia, the government is making plans to fly Canberra-based ambassadors to the 2,300km reef for a visit ahead of the meeting which starts on Friday. Also on Monday, results from two separate polls of Australians say there is overwhelming agreement the reef is in danger, with strong support for the in-danger recommendation.
Unesco has recommended the Great Barrier Reef be placed on the list after three mass bleaching events since the last time the site was considered in 2015. Ley said her officials were “blindsided” by the recommendation for the reef off the Queensland coast.
In the letter, seen by the Guardian, the leaders of 10 environment groups write: “While parts of the Great Barrier Reef remain beautiful, we cannot underestimate the existential threat from climate change, with substantial coral loss in recent years from mass coral bleaching events in 2016, 2017 and 2020.” Signatories include the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS), Greenpeace Australia Pacific, WWF-Australia, Seed Indigenous Youth Climate Network, The Wilderness Society and the Australian Conservation Foundation.
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https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jul/13/australian-environment-groups-urge-un-to-put-great-barrier-reef-on-in-danger-list