Government has rejected demands for tougher action on preservation, saying it is already has a A$3bn investment programme
A view of the surface of a 500m-tall coral reef discovered by Australian scientists, off Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, in this still image taken from video taken on October 25 2020 provided on social media. Picture: SCHMIDT OCEAN INSTITUTE VIA REUTERS
“Without a site visit, no desired state of conservation, no corrective measure, and the absence of an agreed climate policy, an immediate endangered-listing will only harm the reef, not protect it,” Australia’s environment minister Sussan Ley told the committee. Unesco has pressed for additional action after issuing repeated warnings about the worsening condition of the reef. The site has suffered from mass coral bleaching caused by higher sea temperatures, according to a UN report published last month. The body downgraded the long-term outlook for the site from “poor” to “very poor”.
Countries including Russia, Saudi Arabia, Hungary and Spain voted against the decision to add the Great Barrier Reef to the list of World Heritage Sites in danger. They argued that more time is needed to monitor the site, and that the effects of climate change are being felt across coral reefs all over the planet, not just Australia’s.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Great Barrier Reef avoids UNESCO 'in danger' listingAustralia on Friday avoided having the Great Barrier Reef listed as an endangered world heritage site by UNESCO, despite extensive climate change-fuelled damage to the ecosystem's corals.
Read more »
Great Barrier Reef avoids UNESCO 'in danger' listingAustralia on Friday avoided having the Great Barrier Reef listed as an endangered world heritage site by UNESCO, despite extensive climate change-fuelled damage to the ecosystem's corals.
Read more »
KZN listed among 'world's greatest places' for 2021 amid unrestAll hope isn't lost in KwaZulu-Natal tourism after the unrest. Time magazine views the province as one of the 'greatest places' in the world.
Read more »
Vaping industry can’t remain unregulated, say experts | CitypressNearly 15 years after making its first appearance in the US in 2007, and now wildly popular across the globe, including in South Africa, vaping remains unregulated on home soil.
Read more »
Miss South Africa writes a children's book published in six languages | ChannelMiss South Africa Shudufhadzo Musida can now add the title of author to her impressive list of achievements.
Read more »