Australia fights UN downgrade of Great Barrier Reef health

This aerial photo shows the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. On Tuesday, Australia said it will fight a recommendation for the Great Barrier Reef to be listed as in danger of losing its World Heritage values due to climate change. KYODO NEWS VIA AP
This aerial photo shows the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. On Tuesday, Australia said it will fight a recommendation for the Great Barrier Reef to be listed as in danger of losing its World Heritage values due to climate change. KYODO NEWS VIA AP

CANBERRA – Australia said Tuesday it will fight against plans to downgrade the Great Barrier Reef’s World Heritage status due to climate change, while environmentalists have applauded the United Nations (UN) World Heritage Committee’s proposal.

In a draft report on Monday, the committee said “there is no possible doubt” that the network of colorful corals off Australia’s northeast coast was “facing ascertained danger.”

The report recommends that the world’s most extensive coral reef ecosystem be added to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) List of World Heritage in Danger.

Environment minister Sussan Ley and Foreign minister Marise Payne have called UNESCO director-general Audrey Azoulay to express the government’s “strong disappointment” and “bewilderment” at the proposal.

Australia, which is one of 21 countries on the committee, will oppose the listing, Ley said.(AP)

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