UNESCO’s recent ruling to not list the Great Barrier Reef has been met with critisim

After much anticipation, the World Heritage Committee has decided to not list the Great Barrier Reef as “in danger”.

The Australian Government reacted angrily when the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) released a draft decision in late June to place the reef on the “in danger” list.

Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe says the Australian Government must take action urgently, to protect the reef.

Environmental activists slam UNESCO decision

The ruling to not classify the Barrier Reef as an endangered World Heritage Site has been heavily critisised.

Senator Thorpe says despite extensive climate change-spurred damage to the ecosystem’s corals – nothing seems to be getting actioned by leaders.

Thorpe and the Greens have been lobbying the Federal Government to take action and save the reef, which has expereicned three bleeching incidents since 2016.

The bleeching to the 2,300-km-long ecosystem was caused by rising ocean temperatures due to global warming.

Areas once teeming with vibrant corals have become lifeless washed-out wastelands, and two-thirds of the reef is believed to have been damaged in some way.

“They’re not basing it on science. They’re basing it on a political decision”

Despite the damage, the reef remains a vital tourist draw for Australia, which had feared an “in danger” label could deter post-pandemic visitors.

Australia’s Environment Minister Sussan Ley had flown to Paris earlier this month to personally lobby member states on the committee, while key ambassadors were invited on a reef snorkelling trip.

Last week Sussan Ley welcomed the decision and thanked the “esteemed delegates for recognising Australia’s commitment to protecting the Great Barrier Reef”.