Australia has garnered enough international support to defer for two years an attempt by the United Nations’ cultural organisation to downgrade the Great Barrier Reef’s World Heritage status because of damage caused by climate change. Unesco had recommended that its World Heritage Committee add the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem off the north-east Australian coast to the World Heritage in Danger list, mainly due to rising ocean temperatures. In the meantime, a monitoring mission will visit the reef to determine how the impact of climate change can be managed. Expand Close A diver monitors the health of the Great Barrier Reef off the Australian coast (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority via AP) / FacebookTwitterEmailWhatsapp A diver monitors the health of the Great Barrier Reef off the Australian coast (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority via AP)Australian Environment Minister Sussan Ley told the virtual meeting that downgrading the reef’s status before the committee had finalised its own climate change policy made no sense. Australia had time to respond by developing a long-term plan to improve the reef’s health called the Reef 2050 Plan.

Source: Irish Independent July 23, 2021 12:45 UTC