The Great Barrier Reef stretches 1,400 miles along the coast of Queensland. The barrier reef is listed by UNESCO as a 'threatened' World Heritage Site following action to conserve the marine ecosystem.
But scientific advisers have warned that the huge coral reef that stretches 1,400 miles along the coast of Queensland remains under 'serious threat» due to global warming and pollution.
UNESCO, the UN body that monitors hundreds of historic sites and natural habitats around the world, said the reef should be listed as «Located in hazards» due to frequent coral bleaching events.
However, it is not. has now decided to reconsider whether it should be declared as such.
The decision was due next month at a meeting of the World Heritage Committee in Saudi Arabia, but will now be delayed until next year.
UNESCO will reconsider whether the Great Barrier Reef should be categorized as endangered. list Photo: Tourism Queensland
The UN body praised Anthony Albanese's centre-left government for taking action to protect the planet's largest reef, but warned that «urgent and sustained action» is still needed to ensure safety. -the long-term future of the marine ecosystem.
He acknowledged that the government had canceled his predecessor's plans to build two large dams in Queensland, which would have affected the water quality of the reef.
This decision is a temporary reprieve for Canberra. UNESCO has asked the Australian government to submit a progress report next February and the reef could still be added to the list of World Heritage in Danger if it does not show progress against existing commitments.
The government on Tuesday welcomed UNESCO's draft decision, saying it was a vote of confidence in its efforts.
“This confirms that my government is working hard to protect the reef, is taking action on climate change and that the rest of the world is paying attention,” said Anthony Albanese, prime minister and centre-left Labor Party leader. elected last May.
Labor vowed to change the policies of the previous Conservative government and do more to tackle climate change.
They committed to Australia to cut greenhouse gas emissions 43% lower 2005 levels by the end of this decade.
Heat stress caused by global warming caused the Great Barrier Reef to bleach in 2016, 2017 and 2020. Photo: mevans/E+
The previous government committed to cutting only 26-28% during this time period.
Heat stress caused by global warming led to the bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef in 2016, 2017 and 2020. , damaging two-thirds of its corals.
Venetian Lagoon should be included in the list
While Australia has escaped UNESCO's censure, the cultural agency is not as lenient on Italy.
The UN body has recommended that Venice and its lagoon be added to the list of dangers due to the threat of overtourism and climate change.< /p>
UNESCO stated that the proposals put forward by Italy to address the problems are “currently insufficient and not detailed enough”, adding that Italy “has not maintained a steady and meaningful exchange of information since its last Committee meeting in 2021, when UNESCO already threatened to contribute to black list». Venice.»
Venice city officials said they would «carefully read» the UNESCO document and discuss it with the national government in Rome.
Venice was struggling with the dual problem of mass tourism. and population decline over the years, with critics worried that it is turning into a fake Disneyland where normal life is all but extinguished by the sheer number of visitors.
The City Council has proposed a tourist tax on day trips to try and reduce the number visitors, but this has been continually delayed due to objections.
UNESCO regularly reviews the condition of its 1,157 World Heritage Sites.
At a meeting in Riyadh in September, a Committee of Member States will review more than 200 objects and decide which ones to add to the list of dangerous.
Experts recommended, in addition to Venice, the cities of Kiev and Lvov in Ukraine should be included in the list of «dangerous».
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