Australia's Great Barrier Reef off UNESCO danger list, still under 'serious threat'

Record ID: 1736281

  • Title: Australia's Great Barrier Reef off UNESCO danger list, still under 'serious threat'
  • Date: 1st August 2023
  • Summary: TOWNSVILLE, AUSTRALIA (AUGUST 1, 2023) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) JAMES COOK UNIVERSITY MARINE BIOLOGIST, JODIE RUMMER, SAYING: "It has not been listed as 'In Danger' as of yet, it's been delayed. But no matter what that announcement was going to be, regardless of an 'In Danger' listing outcome, the important, urgent conversation is regarding the severe threat that the Great Barrier Reef faces from accelerating climate change and that this number one threat will remain if we don't double down on our efforts to reduce emissions this decade. So that's really where the conversation is right now, whether that listing as 'In Danger' or not."
  • Embargoed: 15th August 2023 04:32
  • Keywords: Australia Great Barrier Reef Queensland UNESCO climate change drone environment marine reef
  • Location: GREAT BARRIER REEF, CANBERRA, MAGNETIC ISLAND, TOWNSVILLE, AUSTRALIA
  • City: GREAT BARRIER REEF, CANBERRA, MAGNETIC ISLAND, TOWNSVILLE, AUSTRALIA
  • Country: Australia
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Environment,Nature/Wildlife
  • Reuters ID: LVA006132501082023RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: A UNESCO heritage committee on Tuesday (August 1) stopped short of listing Australia's Great Barrier Reef as a site that is "in danger" but warned the world's biggest coral reef ecosystem remained under "serious threat" from pollution and the warming of oceans.
    Australia has been lobbying for years to keep the reef - which contributes about A$6 billion ($4 billion) to the economy and supports 64,000 jobs - off the endangered list as it could lead to losing the heritage status, taking some shine off its attraction for tourists.
    UNESCO - the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization - in November said the reef should be put on the danger list after frequent coral bleaching events.
    But in the latest report, the panel "noted with appreciation" the commitments and initial actions by the Australian government to preserve the reef. The centre-left Labor government has pledged A$1.2 billion to protect the reef, withdrawn federal funding for dams and denied permission for a coal mine that it said could have affected the reef's water quality.
    (Production: Stefica Nicol Bikes)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2023. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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