Great Barrier Reef avoids UNESCO downgrade

Image:Image: Par Rich Carey via Shutterstock: Great Barrier Reef

A global lobbying effort by the Australian government gained support from twelve World Heritage Committee countries on Friday night to block UNESCO from labeling the Great Barrier Reef as a site” in danger”. Australia will now be required to report back to UNESCO in six months on its reef policy as well as host a UN mission to the reef to determine the future of the site’s listing. The ruling comes as a proposal for a coal mine located 10km from the Great Barrier Reef awaits a final decision by federal environmental minister Sussan Ley over whether it will proceed.

Produced By: Tahlia Kraefft

Featured In Story: Matt Canavan, Senator for Queensland, and David Cazzulino, Great Barrier Reef Campaigner, Australian Marine Conservation Society

First aired on The Wire, Wednesday, 28 July 2021