UNESCO

The federal government is not off the hook as UNESCO's World Heritage Committee will again vote on whether or not to put the Great Barrier Reef on the “in danger” list next year. Margaret Gleeson reports.

A snap action by Extinction Rebellion Western Australia highlighted the plight of the Great Barrier Reef. Kerry Smith reports.

All references to Australia were removed from the final version of a major UN report on climate change after the Australian government intervened, arguing that the information could harm tourism. The report World Heritage and Tourism in a Changing Climate, initially had a key chapter on the Great Barrier Reef, as well as small sections on Kakadu and Tasmanian forests. But when the Department of Environment saw a draft of the report, it objected, and every mention of Australia was removed.
The Queensland government's Reef Water Quality Protection Plan released its Report Card 2014 on September 21. It states, “Results show the need to accelerate the rate of change and drive innovation to meet the ambitious targets.” Queensland Environment Minister Steven Miles, who released the report, said there was more bad news than good in the report. “If one of my kids came home with a report card like this, I'd be a bit disappointed,” he said.